But without other people, it can get a little lonely—so like many other trail users, I invite others along to ride with me. And that’s the power of trails—how quickly they bring us together and help us build community!

The other side of the coin, however, is that it’s no longer all about me (*gasp!*), and I need to remove myself from the center of the universe. I must acknowledge that respect and courtesy toward others is absolutely more important than my own individual experience. And the first step in removing myself from the center of the universe is … slowing down and using safe speeds when I’m out there on the trail.

But what does using safe speeds actually mean, and why is it important?

1A safe speed on one trail may not be safe on another.

The most standard speed limit on trails across the country is 15 miles per hour. But not all trails are made equally. Some trails have strict speed limits that are monitored and enforced. Others advise a certain speed but trust trail users to police themselves. You can often find speed recommendations and requirements posted at trailheads or online. One thing remains constant: Speed limits and advisories are put in place to keep everyone—of every age and ability—safe.

Use your best judgement, and be respectful. If it feels like you’re traveling too fast, you probably are.

Capital Crescent Trail in the Washington, D.C. area | Photo by Barbara Richey

Speed is a major discussion on trails because of perception. While some individuals may feel their speed is suitable, other users might actually feel unsafe because of how fast their fellow trail users are going. For everyone, regardless of mode of travel or level of experience, this is a great opportunity to put your own desires on the backseat and put the needs of others above your own.

Would you zoom past your grandma Roadrunner style on the trail? If the answer is no, then keep that in mind when you share the trail with someone else’s grandma.

3Using Safe Speeds Is for the Greater Good.

Remember—we’re all in this together. The communities along America’s trails are made up of children and families just like yours and mine—and people just like you and me. Someone’s nephew that’s taking their training wheels off for the first time. Someone’s daughter who’s training for a 5k in the fall. Someone’s grandpa that’s taking a stroll after lunch. By using a safe speed, you are treating your fellow trail users with respect. That’s incredibly important because they’re family—if not to you, then to someone else.

Federal funds have helped build many trails across the country, and as America’s advocate and voice for these essential projects, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy keeps a close eye on the programs that make them possible.

The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP)—known as Transportation Enhancements (TE) until 2012—lives within the federal transportation bill, MAP-21, and is the largest source of federal funding for trails, and walking and biking programs in America.

In 2014, Congress apportioned $738.3 million to the states under TAP for transportation projects like rail-trail conversions, sidewalks, biking facilities, historic preservation of transportation facilities, etc., as well as projects eligible under two other federal programs: the Recreational Trails Program and the Safe Routes to School Program.

Every year, the Transportation Alternatives Data Exchange at Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (TrADE @ RTC) compiles a spending report that provides transparency and valuable comparisons for people interested in transportation policy. This report breaks down the funds apportioned by state, as well as the funds states spent on projects that qualify for reimbursement (obligations) through TAP.

“Citizens, transportation officials and legislators can see how every penny was spent,” says Kevin Mills, senior vice president of policy at RTC. “The record makes clear that TAP provides outstanding bang for the buck in improving every state and district in America. We also see which states have gained the most by making TAP a priority."

Here are a few highlights from RTC’s findings this year:

A significant chunk of TAP funds go to walking and biking; 97 percent of TAP funds have gone to active transportation under MAP-21.

Wyoming, Delaware and Rhode Island are top implementers, with Indiana and Minnesota close behind.

“Most improved” is Massachusetts, which had a five-year cumulative obligation rate of 110 percent in 2014, compared to 39 percent in 2011.

To see how state funding compares, download the full report on the TrADE website.

About TrADE

The mission of the Transportation Alternatives Data Exchange at Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (TrADE @ RTC) is to track Transportation Enhancements (TE) and Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) implementation. TrADE provides a web-accessible database and annual report on national and state-by-state funding and expenditures. Through TrADE, RTC’s goal is to make TAP the most accountable and transparent transportation funding source in the United States. Visit the TrADE website to access our data and publications.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/30/keeping-an-eye-on-federal-bikeped-spending-rtc-releases-trade-report/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/30/keeping-an-eye-on-federal-bikeped-spending-rtc-releases-trade-report/Thu, 30 July 2015 12:13:18 Dunbar, Pennsylvania, Is Ready for a Trail RenaissanceKatie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/27/dunbar-pennsylvania-is-ready-for-a-trail-renaissance/I ride into Dunbar, Pennsylvania, at the hottest part of the day. The sun is beating down on me, and the sleepy southwestern Pennsylvania town looks misty through my sweat-drenched vision. Even in my fatigued state, I immediately know this place holds something unique, something special.

It was day three of the Pennsylvania Rail-Trail Sojourn, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s annual ride on some of the country’s greatest rail trails. I was joined by nearly 300 other trail enthusiasts as we made the six-day journey from Cumberland, Maryland, to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

But let’s get back to the heat-stroke inducing afternoon in Dunbar.

I see the baseball field full of tents, a sure sign that my fellow sojourn riders had arrived. Before I could even get off my bicycle, an unassuming gentleman in a T-shirt, blue jeans and an ear-to-ear grin greeted me with an outstretched hand. “Welcome to Dunbar! You made it!” I let out a “Yahoo!” and returned the man’s hearty handshake.

“I’m Norm, the mayor of Dunbar.” Norm’s energy was addictive, and I found myself smiling equally as big, forgetting that I had just ridden 48 miles on a sultry summer day to get to his charming town. I thank the mayor for welcoming us to town. After all, 300 out-of-towners swarming your otherwise sleepy town could be quite the shock! But not only was Norm unfazed, he was thrilled.

“I’m just tickled to death to have you all here,” he says. “I see these tents set up here, and I can’t think of one better thing in the world right now.”

And after a quick swim in Dunbar Creek and a free ice cream cone, I couldn’t think of one place in the world that I would rather be. This is a holdout in Fayette County, just 2 miles off the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP), a hidden gem that’s home to around 1,000 residents and has been all but forgotten after a long and storied history as an industry town.

In fact, the coke industry and the railroad have defined the narrative in Dunbar for decades, something that Richard Brooks knows a thing or two about. Brooks has lived in Dunbar his entire life and has seen the town change immensely—from a kid growing up in the late 1940s, to a man working for the railroad, to one of the individuals who would eventually help tear up the same rail corridor that kept him employed for a large part of his career.

At its peak, Dunbar had more than 6,000 people, six bars and a handful of hotels. Brooks recalls what his mother used to say about Dunbar, during its heyday, stating, “You could leave one job and walk five minutes and get another.” But that’s not the case today. The town has torn down many buildings because they cost too much to maintain. It’s not easy for him to see, or for me to hear about, and it’s a sure indication of changing times, changing industries and changing economies.

Many look at Dunbar and say the town has fallen on hard times, and it would be hard to argue otherwise. The economy of the entire town was propped up on an industry that no longer calls Dunbar home. Despite the hard times, or maybe because of them, the people of Dunbar are a united front. They have heart and perseverance, and they’re going to stick together for their community.

But there is effervescent kindness in Dunbar, and the sojourn riders were practically tripping on it left and right. The librarian loaned out her personal dominos set for folks to play in the evenings. Kitchens all over town were cooking and baking in anticipation of the fire-house dinner planned for the second evening of our two-day stay. It was a southwestern Pennsylvania feast of pierogis, stuffed cabbage, wedding cookies and more, created out of kindness and graciousness, from this incredible community.

We came here by way of the Sheepskin Trail, an important corridor in this part of Pennsylvania and reaching into West Virginia. When complete, the trail will connect Dunbar to Uniontown, West Virginia, 34 miles away. Various groups, especially the Historic National Road Corridor, are working hard to close that gap, and while the trail is not yet finished, folks in Dunbar are keen to have it completed. Looking to examples like the nearby GAP, they see the trail and the connections it would provide as Dunbar’s ticket to resurgence.

I asked Richard Brooks about the development of the Sheepskin Trail. Without missing a beat, he mentioned how often he and his grandkids use the finished trail section. I mentioned that some trails face opposition when they’re first proposed. New ideas are sometimes tough to get used to. Was that the case for citizens of Dunbar?

“No way,” he says. “That trail can’t be built fast enough for us. We know nothing bad will happen. It can only be good for our town.”

After a great two days, we continued our journey, departing Dunbar with earnest handshakes and heartfelt thank yous from guests and hosts alike. I see Norm again as I’m rolling out, and he’s over the moon. It’s clear that the influx of bicyclists is the biggest thing to hit Dunbar for quite some time, and I see the true impact finally hit him. This is what a trail economy could mean for his town. This could be the next step for Dunbar. This trail—it’s the ticket.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/27/dunbar-pennsylvania-is-ready-for-a-trail-renaissance/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/27/dunbar-pennsylvania-is-ready-for-a-trail-renaissance/Mon, 27 July 2015 11:17:32 Five Common Types of Trail Use Rules (Everyone Should Know)Amy Kapphttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/21/five-common-types-of-trail-use-rules-everyone-should-know/When you’re out on the trail, knowing and following the rules seems easy enough, but rules can vary from trail to trail. Some rules are universal, while others differ by state and municipality. Although it’s impossible to list the rules for every trail in the United States, we spoke with RTC’s national Trail Development Manager, Jim Brown, who helped us break them down into five simple categories that all trail users should be familiar with.

“Trails really are for everyone,” said Brown. “By being aware of trail etiquette and safety, we can create public spaces that are free of conflict—creating safe, welcoming places for all.”

The YMCA of Easley, Pickens & Powdersville makes it easy for users of the Doodle Trail in South Carolina to find opening and closing times; the hours—which are based on sunrise and sunset—are posted daily on their website.

Regardless of when you hit a trail, remember to stay alert—and visible clothing is always a great idea.

2Trails follow federal, state and local laws.

Keep in mind that the same local laws and ordinances that apply for other public places, like parks, will likely apply to trails as well, for example: no alcohol, no smoking or illegal drugs, and no discharging fire arms.

It’s particularly important to remember that all traffic laws apply at crosswalks, intersections and turnoffs, and, in the past three decades, many states and localities have adopted bicycle-rider helmet laws.

Some localities will have permit requirements for events and fundraising initiatives, and camping is usually only permitted in publicly designated camping areas or private campsites. It’s a great idea to check with your local trail manager about the regulations that apply in your area.

3Even universal trail etiquette practices can—and do—vary.

Sometimes, they are carefully regulated; in Renton, Washington, for example, the Cedar River Trail requires all cyclists to follow a 10-mile-per-hour bike speed regulation within city limits; violators can be fined. (Users on foot and wheel must stay on their side of the yellow line, as well.)

In some cases, the rules exist, but with exceptions. For instance, while racing and speed training are generally no-nos on the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail, you can apply for a permit to hold a race or walk with the Wallkill Valley Land Trust.

And sometimes, the rules are different based on location: In Sacramento, California, and in Rhode Island, the rule is to keep left when walking (as you would on a road, facing traffic) and right when cycling. And some trails ask that all traffic keeps left.

What is more universal, however, is the yielding rule: horses have right of way, then pedestrians, then inline skaters, then cyclists. Another good tip: When passing a horse, do not ring a bell or blow a whistle, but do give the rider an audible heads up.

4Users should leave no trace.

This one almost goes without saying: 1) Pick up after yourself, and clean up after your pets (many trails have trash cans along their corridors or at trailheads, and some provide pet waste receptacles, like those found on the Sioux Falls Bike Trail). 2) Don’t disturb wildlife and local vegetation. Most trails prohibit the destruction or removal of any plants or trees without a permit, and some have rules about not stepping in certain protected plant or wildlife areas. Additionally some may be attempting to nurture the growth of specific native plant species, like those on the Saucon Rail-Trail last year. As the saying goes, “Take only pictures; leave only footprints.”

The intent of some regulations may not be clear at first, but they could exist to protect an environmental resource or historical site. In all cases, try and disturb your surroundings as little as possible to help preserve natural ecosystems and cultural geography. These are the features that make trails special!

5Motorized vs. non-motorized use is determined locally.

There are some trails that do not allow motorized use and/or simply aren’t suited for it. But many trails provide access for snowmobiles and ATVs; the Bangor and Aroostook Rail-Trail in Maine, for instance, is a multi-use pathway that is shared and maintained by many snowmobile clubs.

In closing ...

It’s always best to know and follow the rules of your favorite trails. Together, we can all set a great example for others! Fortunately, trail managers make this task easy: Many trail rules are listed online or at trailheads and major intersections.

And when in doubt, follow the Golden Rule: Treat others (and your community) with the same kindness you want in return to help ensure everyone feels safe and comfortable—and has a great time—on America’s trails.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/21/five-common-types-of-trail-use-rules-everyone-should-know/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/21/five-common-types-of-trail-use-rules-everyone-should-know/Tue, 21 July 2015 12:34:38 Washington Couple Meets Retirement—One Rail-Trail at a TimeElizabeth Strianohttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/20/washington-couple-meets-retirement-one-rail-trail-at-a-time/After years of running a household and raising their children, and a long career as a veterinarian, Ann and Bill Testerman are starting a new life in retirement together by biking the United States, one rail-trail at a time.

The Testerman’s adventures began when Bill retired 10 years ago. Their first foray led them on a hike of the Appalachian Trail, which they did in two trips over two years. Ann said this trip was key to helping them learn how to pack light for their bike trips.

The Testermans at the Eastern Continental Divide on the Great Allegheny Passage | Photo courtesy Bill and Ann Testerman

The Testerman’s first overnight bicycle trip took them down south along the Pacific Coast on a series of multi-use trails from near their home in northwest Washington (Anacortes) to the California–Mexico border. The following year, they took a series of trails through the southern tier of the United States from San Diego, California, through Texas, finally ending in St. Augustine, Florida.

Ann said that although she enjoyed the trip, it required too much road riding and not enough on trails, which she prefers!

Locally, in addition to day trips to nearby San Juan Island, which is known for both its beauty and robust bicycling culture, the Testermans can often be found on the Tommy Thompson Trail. Ann said this trail is a particular favorite of theirs because of its half-mile long railway trestle, which provides a beautiful view of Mount Baker as they cross Fidalgo Bay. The couple also takes frequent day trips on the nearby Olympic Discovery Trail, which crosses trestles over creeks and rivers, and passes through forests and prairie.

According to Ann, because the trails do not all connect, their trip required careful planning. Regardless of the logistics involved, however, the couple thoroughly enjoyed the trip. “We absolutely loved it,” said Ann. “We stopped at every lock on the C&O and Allegheny canals and read all about the history at each stop.”

In particular, she said they were surprised by how quickly they felt that they were far away from civilization, riding under the dense canopies of East Coast forests. She also notes how impressed they were with the work that had been done to preserve those trails. “It’s very impressive that somebody has managed such a large effort, the local communities and the states and federal government, to preserve these trails,” said Ann.

Bill and Ann said that these trips help to keep them active and healthy while allowing them time to enjoy the beauty of nature. They are also happy to spend this time together and have an opportunity to explore a hobby they both enjoy. They both agreed, however, that one of the best parts of their trips is the people they meet along the way.

“A friend of mine said that bicycling is like a magic carpet that takes you places to meet wonderful people and see beautiful things,” said Bill. “These experiences with the people we meet and with nature are what keep us going.”

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/20/washington-couple-meets-retirement-one-rail-trail-at-a-time/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/20/washington-couple-meets-retirement-one-rail-trail-at-a-time/Mon, 20 July 2015 17:19:21 Three Great Trails for Fly Fishing by BikeRuss Rocahttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/17/three-great-trails-for-fly-fishing-by-bike/The idea of bicycling and fishing isn’t exactly new, but it’s probably something many of us haven’t done since childhood. With the renewed interest in bike touring and bikepacking in America, there is no better time to pack a lightweight fly rod and head out for a great fishing-biking adventure. Here are three trails, ranging from remote to urban, that pass through some awesome trout fisheries. And even if you don’t fish, you’ll still come away with a fantastic bike ride. It’s a win-win situation!

1Deschutes River Trail, Oregon

Deschutes River Trail | Photo courtesy Russ Roca

The Deschutes River Trail, from the confluence of the Deschutes and Columbia rivers, is a 12.5-mile natural-surface trail that excels in both scenery and fishing. The trail follows a dramatic canyon formed by the Deschutes River. You’ll pass large basalt cliffs, an abandoned box car and an old homestead at the end. There are several primitive campsites along the way if you want to make your trail experience into an overnight bikepacking and bikefishing adventure, or you can just pedal the route as an out-and-back and basecamp at Deschutes State Recreation Area.

The Deschutes holds native redband rainbow trout as well as renowned runs of steelhead in the winter and summer, offering a variety of fish to target. In late spring and early summer, you may luck into the mythic salmonfly hatch, when 3-inch stoneflies emerge and turn the river into a feeding frenzy.

2John Wayne Pioneer Trail, Washington

Iron Horse Trail | Photo courtesy Russ Roca

The John Wayne Pioneer Trail is one of Washington’s best-kept secrets. While the former rail corridor extends for about 253 miles, the first 100 miles (also known as the Iron Horse Linear State Park) are the most maintained and navigable. The trail begins in North Bend (outside of Seattle) and continues east through the impressive 2.5-mile Snoqualmie Pass Tunnel (bring a good light!). There are a few hiker/biker campsites directly off the trail that feel beautifully remote, making the trail ideal for bike touring and bikepacking adventures. Camping is also available at Lake Easton State Park and Lake Kachess.

The surface is composed of fairly compact crushed rock, with a few deep gravel sections. After Snoqualmie Pass and into Ellensburg, the trail parallels and crisscrosses the Yakima River, known for its rainbow and cutthroat trout fishing. Although the Yakima is the main fishery along the trail, there is a web of forest service roads for the more adventurous that follow tributaries not too far from the trail. A 4wt or tenkara rod are ideal for fishing these waters. You could literally spend years exploring the Yakima and its tributaries and barely scratch the surface!

3Trout Run Trail, Iowa

Trout Run Trail | Photo courtesy Russ Roca

The Trout Run Trail is located in the northeastern corner of Iowa and circumnavigates the small but cosmopolitan town of Decorah. This section of Iowa is part of the Midwest’s Driftless Area, which is known for its unique karst topography of limestone bluffs and rock structures. Trout Run is a family-friendly, 11-mile paved trail that incorporates a few hills to keep it interesting. Beginning just a few blocks from downtown, you pass a rock quarry and an idyllic stretch of the upper Iowa River.

The trail is bicycling and fishing at its best! There are obvious river access points, where the tall grasses have been cleared for your backcast! To access the prime spots, it does pay to pack some waders and boots or water sandals. (A locally printed map shows the best fishing spots along the trail.) The river is not wide and is fishable with lightweight tackle (it is ideal for tenkara-style fly fishing).

When you’re done fishing, you can complete the loop (be sure to wave to the resident bald eagles) and pedal up switchbacks that traverse a few farms, until you return downtown for a cold beer after a long day of catching trout.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/17/three-great-trails-for-fly-fishing-by-bike/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/17/three-great-trails-for-fly-fishing-by-bike/Fri, 17 July 2015 00:00:00 Five Great Rail-Trails for Family CampingLaura Starkhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/16/five-great-rail-trails-for-family-camping/School is out, summer is in, and it’s time to take the kids on a vacay. Below are five great options for a weekend camping and biking trip!

And our list is by no means exhaustive; check our trail-finder website, TrailLink.com, if you need to find something closer to home. At a leisurely pace with lots of stops to eat, explore and—let’s face it, pee—you might be surprised how far they can go!

1Banks-Vernonia State Trail, Oregon

Family camping doesn’t get much easier—or more beautiful—than this. The level grade, well-shaded rail-trail, situated a short drive west of Portland, offers 21 miles of smooth pavement with restrooms at trailheads every few miles. The rail-trail offers a gorgeous combination of woodlands and pastoral land, but the scene stealer is its collection of bridges; more than a dozen accentuate the trail, including a pair of 700-footers.

A full-service campground with tent sites, rustic cabins and hot showers can be found in Buxton at L.L. Stub Stewart State Park. This is close to the trail’s midpoint, so you could split your adventure into two easy days, exploring half the trail one day and the other half the next day with plenty of time leftover for other activities, like checking out the park’s Discovery Depot, which has lots of great info on the area’s wildlife and history. Tent camping, as well as RV sites, can also be found in Anderson Park at the trail’s northern terminus in Vernonia.

Bike rentals are available at the south end of the trail at Banks Bicycles.

2Greenbrier River Trail, West Virginia

Perhaps a recent review posted to TrailLink.com sums up this trail’s camping experience best: “We have just one regret ... being that this was our first bike camping trip, I am not sure that any other trail will compare.” The 77-mile Greenbrier River Trail in east-central West Virginia is in our Rail-Trail Hall of Fame for good reason. It offers scenic peaks and valleys, lush forests, pioneering history, genuine hospitality in its small towns and a picturesque river at its side. Although the trail is gravel, it’s well-maintained with clean trailside bathrooms, picnic tables and old-fashioned water pumps along the way.

Cabins are available in Seneca State Forest, adjacent to the northern reaches of the trail. They’re inexpensive and without electricity, but they’re comfortable and located in a beautiful natural setting. There are also similar cabins and campgrounds at Watoga State Park, some 30 miles south along the trail.

Bike rentals are available at Appalachian Sport on S.R. 55/219 just across the bridge from the trail into Marlinton.

3Cape Cod Rail Trail, Massachusetts

This scenic 22-mile rail-trail serves up a genuine Cape Cod experience, stretching through quaint villages and along sandy beaches past a diverse landscape of salt marshes, pine forests and cranberry bogs. The trail is paved, with few inclines, and trailheads sprinkled along the route offer restrooms, food, water and swimming areas. Of course, Cape Cod National Seashore, with more than 40 miles of beach and picturesque lighthouses along the Atlantic Ocean, is the highlight of the trip.

Near mile 11, in Brewster, the wooded Nickerson State Park offers camping (including yurt options), as well as swimming pools, picnic areas and restrooms. Farther east and north, in Eastham, you’ll find Atlantic Oaks, an RV park that also offers two-bedroom travel trailers for a weekly rental rate, just a half-mile from the National Seashore.

4Kal-Haven Trail Sesquicentennial State Park, Michigan

The Kal-Haven Trail has the advantage of being bookended by two great cities in southwest Michigan—Kalamazoo and South Haven—that offer great amenities, attractions and convenience for travelers. In between, the crushed-stone rail-trail sprawls 34.5 miles through farmland, woodlands and charming small towns.

On the trail’s west end, camping is available in Van Buren State Park, where kids can enjoy exploring sand dunes and taking an unforgettable dip in one of the country’s Great Lakes. Another option for the young (and young at heart) in South Haven is Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park, which—in addition to covering your lodging needs with tent sites, cabins and RVs hookups—offers a plethora of activities for the energetic crowd including a pool, athletic facilities, outdoor movies and themed weekends.

5Withlacoochee State Trail, Florida

Want to have a great time in Florida with the kids, but the idea of spending hours on end in a theme park not your thing? Take them on the Withlacoochee State Trail to experience Florida at its natural best. Ideally situated between Orlando and Tampa, the 46-mile rail-trail, all paved, travels along the Withlacoochee River through scenic wildlife areas. This is a terrific area for birding, and the probability of spotting a gator is high, a childhood experience that would surely never be forgotten! Multiple trailheads and the trail’s close proximity to the surrounding communities means food and drink are never far away—a plus for parents.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/16/five-great-rail-trails-for-family-camping/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/16/five-great-rail-trails-for-family-camping/Thu, 16 July 2015 14:16:39 Virginia's New River Trail State ParkLaura Starkhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/13/virginias-new-river-trail-state-park/Trail of the Month: July 2015

“The feeling in the community is very positive and appreciative of the New River Trail. It draws tourism that greatly enhances our towns.”

Nestled in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Highlands, the New River Trail State Park offers 57 miles of green. With most of the trail running under a lush canopy of trees, and the presence of two invitingly dark tunnels, the low-grade, crushed-stone trail provides a pleasant summer ride. It’s proximity to the New River, which is actually one of the world’s oldest rivers (geologically, speaking), also offers prime opportunities to cool off with canoe, kayak and tubing trips, or a simple dip in the water.

View from the Ivanhoe Trestle | Courtesy Virginia DCR

“The whole entire trail is beautiful,” says Anthony Akers, assistant county administrator for Pulaski County, one of four counties that the expansive trail traverses. “For the majority of the trail, you’re viewing the river; it’s one of its major draws. And a lot of the trail is shaded with high mountain walls on one side and steep slopes going down to the river on the other side.”

In addition to a boat launch and river access (including fishing), the park’s headquarters at Foster Falls—near the trail’s center point—offers guided horse rides, camping facilities and a shuttle service, making the trail a perfect springboard for a jam-packed family vacation. For those traveling with kids, restroom facilities about every 10 miles are a welcome sight, and the quaint downtowns of several small communities are accessible only a few miles off the trail.

When you live in the mountains, it’s hard to imagine living anywhere else ... We’re big on preserving our greenspace and being able to enjoy it recreationally.

“When you live in the mountains, it’s hard to imagine living anywhere else,” says Akers. “We’re big on preserving our greenspace and being able to enjoy it recreationally. The feeling in the community is very positive and appreciative of the New River Trail. It draws tourism that greatly enhances our towns.”

Shot Tower | Courtesy Virginia DCR

The trail corridor, where once an industrial railroad ferried out locally mined iron ore, is now a haven for wildlife. “This past fall, a lady and her husband were out riding and saw a black bear about a mile down the trail, so they turned around and saw a turkey on the way back,” chuckles Sam Sweeney, a park manager with Virginia’s Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), which manages the rail-trail.

Remnants of this industrial past—like old iron furnaces, a tall shot tower where musket balls were made, restored train depots, railroad trestles and a bright red caboose at the southern trailhead in Galax—still dot the landscape that now feels serene and almost untouched. A smattering of trailside interpretive panels detail the area’s history, and more are planned.

The rail corridor was donated to the state by Norfolk Southern Corporation in 1986, and by summer 1987, the trail’s first four miles, from the Shot Tower historical site to Austinville, were opened. Other sections, which had bridges that needed re-decking and handrails, proved more challenging to complete; but, by the late 1990s, the full length of the trail was ready for the public. Today, amenities continue to be added to the trail to enhance the experience.

Highway 52 Trestle near the Shot Tower | Courtesy Virginia DCR

“We’re in the process of restoring an old orphanage that used to be a hotel when the railroad came through,” says Sweeney of a new project for revitalizing the late 19th-century Victorian-style building in Foster Falls. “We’ve restored the exterior and are hoping to obtain money in the next year or two to finish its interior. What was once the main hotel building will have a bed-and-breakfast set up, and the outlying buildings, like the ice house and boys dormitory, may be utilized for hostels.”

On the north end of the trail, more change is afoot; efforts are underway to transform a 241-acre site in Pulaski County where iron ore and iron oxides for pigments were once mined. Chuck Hoover, the president of Hoover Color, is an avid biker and wanted to put the property to good use by donating it to the state. The vision is to add 4 miles of mountain biking trail in its hilly terrain, which would be a pleasant contrast to the relative flatness of the New River Trail that runs adjacent.

“It looks like a western landscape,” says John Eustis, executive director of New River Land Trust, which is helping to facilitate the land exchange. “There’s a lot of texture to it and variation in color.” The minerals in the site’s rocky slopes—in rich shades of yellow, green and black—look striking and unexpected in this corner of Appalachia.

Draper Mercantile has a restaurant and store which rents bikes for the trail. | Photo by Gene Dalton

But one thing that does fit snuggly in place here is Draper Mercantile, a gleaming white-paneled building with a welcoming front porch, which exudes an easy, home-spun charm. Affectionately known as the Merc, the establishment is more than 100 years old.

“There were a lot of farms in Draper Valley,” says Gene Dalton, who manages The Junction bike shop inside the Merc. “And farmers came to the mercantile to buy supplies: sugar, flour and other groceries. Draper had a mill, a doctor’s office, a post office and a bank; it was a little town that served the valley.”

Nowadays, with its close proximity to Interstate 81 and the north end of the New River Trail (Dalton says, ‘Just look out the front door, and there it is’), Draper Mercantile is ideally situated and very popular. In addition to the bike shop, inside is a country-style store and restaurant. Amongst the goods for sale are historical treasures, like one of the site’s original potbellied stoves, which Dalton says people would gather around in the early days of television: “They’d come in and buy a soda and watch shows like ‘Amos ‘n’ Andy.’”

Each year, the park averages more than a million visitors and generates about $16 million in revenue for the surrounding communities.

That warm welcoming feeling seems to start here and roll down the trail. Dalton recalls a time when a small group of travelers who were visibly road weary popped in off the interstate for a bite to eat. Needing a stretch and nip of fresh air, they rented bikes on the spot and later returned from a trip down the New River Trail recharged and glowing. Their experience is not unique. Each year, the park averages more than a million visitors and generates about $16 million in revenue for the surrounding communities.

Pictured left: group horse ride along the river | Courtesy Virginia DCR — Pictured right: Riders enter one of the two tunnels located on the New River Trail. | Photo by Gene Dalton

“Increasingly, this region of Virginia is realizing that we have an opportunity when it comes to eco-tourism,” says Eustis. “The New River Trail is a perfect example of that. A wide variety of businesses have been established because of it, and amenities like this can be real economic drivers for the local economy. No one is going to want to walk or bike a trail if they’re just going to see houses or factories or Walmarts. They want to experience beautiful rural landscapes like ours.”

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/13/virginias-new-river-trail-state-park/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/13/virginias-new-river-trail-state-park/Mon, 13 July 2015 16:48:50 Enhancing the Everglades Through Environmentally Responsible TransportationJane Yeager Cheffyhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/13/enhancing-the-everglades-through-environmentally-responsible-transportation/National parks across the United States are struggling with growing concerns about the environmental impacts of providing vehicle-only access to their lands and amenities. Everglades National Park in south Florida is no exception. Fortunately, well-planned, multi-use trails such as the proposed River of Grass Greenway—a 12-to-14-foot-wide separated pathway that would run roughly parallel to U.S. 41 (Tamiami Trail) in Florida—allow access to natural areas while providing opportunities for active transportation.
River of Grass Greenway (ROGG) Concept

One of the goals of the ROGG is to provide safe access for non-motorized transportation across the southern part of the state and to protect the Everglades by promoting responsible transportation options. The 75-mile path will also provide access to six national and state parks, preserves, forests and wildlife refuges currently only accessible by car.

We Floridians need to take responsibility for maintaining our environment, including reducing harmful airborne pollution that contributes to sea level rise—a detrimental effect of climate change. Of all places in the United States, the Everglades is one of the most susceptible; in fact, scientists currently analyzing Everglades restoration are as concerned about sea level rise as they are about water-flow quantity and water quality.

Additionally, more car-based tourists visit the Everglades each year, leading to more deaths of endangered Florida panthers, which are found only in southern Florida (automobile collisions are one of the biggest threats to their populations).

Currently, public transportation along the U.S. 41 corridor, which connects the densely populated east and west coasts of south Florida, does not exist. In addition to providing a multi-use path for non-motorized transportation, the ROGG would include several additional benefits, including a companion shuttle system, making it the first piece of infrastructure to reduce traffic on U.S. 41 through the Everglades.

Because the ROGG alignment is in the shadow of U.S. 41, crossing almost exclusively through public lands, it will not create new disruptions to the watershed (such as habitat fragmentation or commercialization); alternatively, the ROGG would require improvements to the corridor for water drainage and to address other environmental issues.

The National Park Service is concerned about the increasing car traffic in and around our parks. ROGG provides a safe and healthy way for people to explore the Everglades and other natural resources on foot or on bike, reducing the need for automobile-based transportation.

To learn more about ROGG, check out the Feasibility Study and Master Plan, which summarizes the findings of an in-depth study of the area to investigate the potential cultural, environmental and other impacts of the trail.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/13/enhancing-the-everglades-through-environmentally-responsible-transportation/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/13/enhancing-the-everglades-through-environmentally-responsible-transportation/Mon, 13 July 2015 14:17:53 How to Get Back on a Bike—Years Later (8 Simple Tips)Amy Kapphttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/09/how-to-get-back-on-a-bike-years-later-8-simple-tips/I'm in my later thirties, and I recently started riding a bike again after a long time.

The last and only bike I ever owned was a no-frills, blue three-speed purchased when I was 15, and while I loved it, rode it to all your typical teenager destinations, I was never a pro. It was just fun. A driver’s license at 17—and my life in general—turned that bike into a distant memory. And after two unpleasant experiences getting back on one, I told myself, “I’m not a cyclist.”

Cut to present day: I work in a place where 95 percent of my colleagues use bikes regularly for commuting and recreation, and it’s an envy builder—hearing their stories and watching them bike around Washington, D.C., and hit trails together. Yeah, I want a piece of the action. So with a new blue (10-speed) bike to boot, I’m sorting things out as I go. Here are a few things I’ve learned so far.

Photo courtesy SPOKES

Don't be afraid to ask for help.

There are lots of great bike share programs, but I decided to buy/acquire my own bike so I can grow with it and use it daily. I was a bit clueless about where to start.

Talking to other bicyclists, particularly my friends and colleagues, steered me in the right direction. They offered to let me try out their bikes and to connect me with people who refurbish used bicycles. My coworker Elissa went with me to a bike shop and explained how specific models (with different frames, gears, wheels, handlebars, etc.) support different types of riding, such as long-distance road cycling vs. commuting. It was eye opening—and empowering.

It’s okay to have a little anxiety. It will pass.

As a runner and dancer, I’ve stayed active. But for years, when people offered to bike with me, I turned them down. Secretly, I was afraid I’d embarrass myself because it had been a while, and the two times I’d tried to ride again didn’t end well. In those cases, one bike was in bad condition, and the other wasn’t a good fit for my short legs. But both times, I thought it was me.

I just needed to give myself a chance. When I tried out bikes this time around, I relaxed, got comfortable (on a bike that fit me) and gave myself some time to settle in. And after a few minutes, I did. And it was awesome.

Make sure you're comfortable.

Honestly, when you are picking out a bike (used or new), you can worry about a million things, but my coworker Ryan gave me a great piece of advice: How the bike feels to you (and how you feel on it) is key.

Start small.

Accompanied by my husband, I took my first ride back on the residential streets of my neighborhood. I practiced turns and hand signals in a cul-de-sac. Got comfortable with my new helmet. Went up and down some hills. Basically, it was a fun time in a familiar, low-key (non-scary) setting.

Practice the basics of safe, responsible riding.

Aside from being a great time, my practice ride told me I need a little more practice before I hit busier/urban streets. Another thing I realized was that—despite all the biking I did as a teenager—I need to acquaint myself with a few things things, like (cringe) how to make a proper left turn. I plan to grab some knowledgeable friends and hit some less-busy roads for a tutorial.

Trying on helmets, June 2015| Photo by Elissa Southward

Also, in addition to a helmet, I did acquire a bike lock that was highly recommended and a small (very affordable) allen wrench set. (I'll be raiding my closet for some visible clothing, too.)

Hit the trail.

Okay, trails are great options for every level of biker—whether novice, returning or pro—since they provide safe, flat and visually magnificent riding environments away from motor vehicle traffic. And as TrailLink demonstrates, there are lots of 'em!

On a related note, RTC’s Share the Trail campaign provides some great trail use tips.

Explore your local biking groups.

There are biking groups with programs designed specifically for first-time or long-time-away riders. Find out when local rides are taking place, so you don’t have to go it alone! They have wonderful support systems and can provide resources—like this Women & Bicycles Workbook from the Washington Area Bicyclist Association. The League of American Bicyclists also provides a comprehensive set of online materials and offers classes around the country.

Have fun!

As a planner, I can get stuck in the weeds now and again. Before I bought a bike, I asked my coworker Katie, an avid and very maintenance-savvy bicyclist (she's even ridden her bike cross-country) if there was one tool I should never leave for a bike trip without. She looked at me and said, “Don’t wait to bike because you don't have a specific tool! Go out and have fun!”

Don’t get me wrong; Katie is a big advocate for biking self-empowerment. But her point was clear: Enjoy yourself!

I plan to.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/09/how-to-get-back-on-a-bike-years-later-8-simple-tips/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/09/how-to-get-back-on-a-bike-years-later-8-simple-tips/Thu, 09 July 2015 00:30:00 The Art of Cycling: Artist’s 443-Mile Ride Reframes American LandscapeDaniel Plautzhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/08/the-art-of-cycling-artist-s-443-mile-ride-reframes-american-landscape/In case you lost your measuring stick, the average distance between railroad tracks is about four and a half feet. But don’t let this fact get you mixed up with “Four 1/2 feet,” the latest project by artist, rail-trail enthusiast (and former RTC employee!) Lisa Conrad.

How does an 11-day rail-trail marathon come to be considered art? To find out, I interviewed Conrad at her home studio in Oakland, California, where she updated me on the status of her most recent work.

The goal of “Four 1/2 feet” is to use rail-trails to draw a metaphoric line across the continental United States to provide people with a new look at the American landscape. GPS tracking, GoPro footage and a series of high-definition aerial shots by the critically acclaimed photographer Michael Light documented Conrad’s 11-trail, 443-mile ride that started on Seattle’s Burke-Gilman Trail and finished on the Route of the Hiawatha around Pearson, Idaho.

Inside Conrad's minimalist, open-air art studio, I viewed wall-to-wall prints of Light’s aerial shots of the ride. I then peered into the corner of the room and observed something that resembled a flag. Conrad explained that the riders on her team affixed these large white pennants to the backs of their bicycles for the entire duration of the ride. Viewed from hundreds of feet above, the pennants help locate the riders—miniscule white dots—in relation to the magnificent landscapes they must attempt to navigate.

"Four 1/2 feet" pennant | Photo by Cori Hayden

“It was really tough,” Conrad said. “There were a couple segments of the route we chose that were difficult to navigate. We biked along one section in central Washington that led to the edge of a cliff where a bridge had collapsed, and we could see that the trail continued on the other side of this riverbed. Parts of the trail were impassible by bike, so we ended up bushwhacking around certain sections just to link back up to where we could ride again. Luckily, it didn’t rain on us too much.”

While the enduring nature of the cross-country expedition took a physical toll on Conrad (and her bike), it was also rich in moments that her team will never forget. “My favorite part about the ride was finally having the opportunity to visit parts of the country that most people never think to go to. Because who thinks to spend their one week of vacation in northern Idaho, right?” she remarked.

Conrad learned that the experiences these places offer couldn’t be farther from what people tend to associate with their isolated nature. Because they aren’t typical vacation destinations, they offer serenity unmatched by any other place. Conrad’s top trail out of the 11 she traveled was the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes. The 73-mile thigh-burner traverses scenic mountain ranges along Idaho’s chain of lakes region leading up to the foot of the Rockies. The area was rich with Native American activity until the explosion of mining and railroad interests that later developed in the region. Conrad said this complex history made the ride even more meaningful. She also noted a memorable 7-mile downhill section on this trail, calling it a “roller coaster ride.”

Throughout the entire 443-mile ride, Conrad was thankful she could reliably follow the Northwest’s robust regional trail network. In fact, only 20 miles of the entire trip had to be completed on a highway or road. This is a testament to the miles of well-maintained trails that line Washington State and the Idaho Panhandle. The next section of the ride, Conrad explained, will be much trickier and potentially more exposed than the first. Before she can reach the trails of the Midwest, she will have to cross a literal “dead zone” across Montana, which currently has few bike-friendly travel options.

Throughout her career, Conrad’s art has focused on humans’ impact on the planet. To her, the trail is not only an outlet for recreation and solitude, it’s also a platform to create art that sheds light on bigger-picture issues like urban sustainability, natural conservation and American history. The significance of railways is not just that they got people from point A to point B quicker than ever before, but that they fundamentally altered the patterns of westward migration and urbanization throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. A ride back east along these same tracks, Conrad hopes, metaphorically reverses this process while providing her audiences with a completely new way of viewing America.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/08/the-art-of-cycling-artist-s-443-mile-ride-reframes-american-landscape/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/08/the-art-of-cycling-artist-s-443-mile-ride-reframes-american-landscape/Wed, 08 July 2015 14:50:10 Join Us! Let’s "Share the Trail" Together This Summer.Katie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/06/join-us-let-s-share-the-trail-together-this-summer/Last weekend, I hit the trail with my friend for a sunny afternoon ride. It was just a little 7-mile jaunt, and we rode at a relaxed pace, discussing the concert she attended the night before and my upcoming vacation. It was utterly blissful and completely rejuvenating.

When I got home, I put my helmet back on its hook and reflected on what made the experience so enjoyable. Sure, my company was fantastic, and the trail was in good condition. But the real secret to my pleasure cruise? My fellow trail users.

Nearly every interaction I had on the trail that day was based in respect and courtesy. People were using safe speeds and minding their pets. Everyone was staying to the right of the path and passing on the left. Folks gave an audible notice (either a ring of a bell or a gentle “on your left”) when they wanted to travel faster than our leisurely pace.

I remembered the two joggers who had mindfully scooted off the trail with their kid-filled strollers to chat. The dog walker who looked behind her before crossing the path jumped into my mind as an excellent example of being aware of one’s surroundings. I was overcome with an urge to yell “Thank you!” when a fellow bicyclist warned me about a pothole ahead. Smiles were far more common than scours, and it really felt like I was part of a community.

I’m not naïve enough to believe this is how everyone behaves on trails. Trust me—I’ve dealt with my fair share of trailside rudeness and blatant disrespect. I know that it’s not all rainbows and butterflies! But I also know that every time we hit our favorite pathway, we have the power to lead by example and create a trail culture we want to be a part of. Our actions and behavior impact everyone’s safety and trail experience.

That kind of behavior—fueled by courtesy, informed by respect, and keeping the big picture in mind—couldn’t be more important in today’s world. And that’s why RTC is proud to be launching our Share the Trail campaign!

A growing number of Americans are using their local trails for a variety of activities, from walking and running to biking, horseback riding and more. That’s why it’s imperative that we all pitch in and make sure we’re being considerate to our fellow trail users—ensuring fun, safe experiences for all.

Join me in taking the pledge to share the trail! Challenge yourself to make respect and courtesy the two guiding principles of your trail experience, and be a good example for everyone! Remember: We’re all in this together.

Hundreds of trail enthusiasts from all over the country converged in Pittsburgh on the morning of Sunday, June 21, 2015, for RTC’s 14th Annual Pennsylvania Rail-Trail Sojourn.

Our buses buzzed with excitement as we traveled to Cumberland, Maryland, the launching point for our six-day journey.

Photo by Cleo Fogal

And what a journey it was! We rode nearly 200 miles ...

On the Great Allegheny Passage | Photo by Cleo Fogal

Montour Trail | Photo by Katie Harris

And explored the rich history, sites and landscapes of Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Great Allegheny Passage in Rockwood, Pa. | Photo by Katie Harris

Photo by Cleo Fogal

We dove into local swimming holes and played pick-up basketball with locals. We ate some great food—including more wedding cookies than you can dream of—and sang and chatted the nights away under campground pavilions.

In Dunbar, Pa. | Photo by Katie Harris

Photo by Cleo Fogal

And most importantly, we spent our days riding beneath the emerald foliage of one of the most inspiring trail systems in the country, the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) …

Great Allegheny Passage | Photo by Cleo Fogal

And learning about an incredible trail in development, the Sheepskin Trail, which will connect the GAP to communities around the region and become an integral component to this world-class trail network.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/02/on-the-trail-againrtcs-14th-annual-rail-trail-sojourn-a-success/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/02/on-the-trail-againrtcs-14th-annual-rail-trail-sojourn-a-success/Thu, 02 July 2015 17:24:08 Top 10 Rail-Trails for American History: A Fourth of July ListJake Lynchhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/02/top-10-rail-trails-for-american-history-a-fourth-of-july-list/From the finery of America's oldest cities to the wild open spaces of our pioneering past, rail-trails are the perfect way to relive key moments in the nation's history.

This Independence Day weekend, celebrate the birth and growth of America by riding or striding into the past. These former railroad corridors are deeply rooted in American tradition, trials and triumphs, and they provide accessible and inexpensive getaways.

1 Heritage Rail Trail County Park - Pennsylvania

It is perhaps the most famous train journey in American history: Abraham Lincoln on his way to the small town of Gettysburg to deliver a speech at the dedication of a military cemetery. Along the Heritage Rail Trail County Park in York County, riders and hikers can now follow Lincoln's journey that day, seeing the same views and landscapes he pondered through the train window as he composed the speech that began "Four score and seven years ago..." Sadly, Lincoln's final journey would be made along that same Northern Central line just months later. After Lincoln's assassination, the train carried the funeral cortège from Washington, D.C. to his hometown, Springfield, Illinois, for burial.

2 Katy Trail State Park - Missouri

The expedition of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark changed forever what modern Americans would know of their nation. Heading west from St Louis toward Kansas City, the Katy Trail parallels the route taken by these two iconic explorers. Following the Missouri River as they did, trail users can appreciate the toil and time it would have taken to row, pull or push the keelboat and canoes laden with the expedition's supplies. Along the trail, exhibits and signage bring visitors deep into the history of this famous route.

3 East Bay Bike Path - Rhode Island

Bristol calls itself "the most patriotic town in America," and it mounts a solid case. Bristol boasts the oldest continuous Fourth of July celebration - the first Independence Day festivities in Bristol took place in 1785. From Providence, you can pedal the East Bay Bike Path along the shores of Narragansett Bay into Bristol, the perfect way to arrive for a two-day celebration that includes music, the Military, Civic and Firemen's Parade, a Drum Corps show, a firefighters muster, a 4th of July Ball, and, of course, fireworks.

4 Historic Battlefield Trail - Texas

The site of the first battle of the Mexican-American War in 1846, Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park is a key site of a war that literally changed the landscape of North America. Connecting the park with downtown Brownsville, there is a rich history to explore at both ends of the Historic Battlefield Trail. During the Civil War, Brownsville was used as a smuggling point for Confederate goods into Mexico, and the city's streets are rich with historic buildings and a number of lovely churches.

5 White River Trail - Nebraska

If you happen to be in the area, the White River Trail in northwestern Nebraska provides a journey into a notorious episode of American history - the surrender and death in custody of Crazy Horse, the famous leader of the Oglala Lakota tribe. Fort Robinson State Park-the western end of the White River Trail-encompasses the fort and military camp that was home to the Red Cloud Agency in the 1870s. The fort was later the regimental headquarters of the Buffalo Soldiers, and served as the site of a German prisoner-of-war camp during World War II.

6 Schuylkill River Trail - Pennsylvania

Philadelphia is, of course, one of the best places for reflecting on the grand moments of America's past. For those eager to pedal out of town for their history excursion, the Schuylkill River Trail takes you from the heart of the city to Valley Forge National Historic Park, where thousands of Continental Army soldiers camped during the American Revolutionary War. One of the most popular attractions of the park is the restored colonial home used by General George Washington as his headquarters during the encampment.

7 Historic Railroad Tunnel Trail - Nevada

Photo by Eric Arnold Photography

War and exploration were two bold forces that shaped America. Another was construction. Few projects represent the pioneering spirit of America like the Hoover Dam. In the early 1930s, construction planners needed a way to transport materials from Boulder City to the dam site on the Colorado River. So they laid tracks across the desert and blasted cuts and tunnels through the red volcanic ridges above the river. Now, the Historic Railroad Tunnel Trail lets riders and hikers explore this historically, and visually, impressive site. The trail travels through the same massive tunnels the workers did, and hugs the hills on the shoreline of the vast Lake Mead.

8 Blue River Rail Trail - Kansas

Established as a trading post and ferry terminal in 1851, the city of Marysville in northern Kansas was a remarkable hub of migration and exploration, located on the Oregon Trail, the Mormon Trail, the route of the Pony Express, the St. Joe Road, the Overland Stage, the Military Road, and the Otoe-Missouria Trail. The old Pony Express Station there still stands. British explorer Sir Richard Francis Burton, who stopped there in 1860, once called Marysville "a country-town which thrives by selling whiskey to ruffians of all descriptions." Don't let that deter you from celebrating Independence Day on the 8.7-mile the Blue River Rail Trail!

9 The D & L Trail - Pennsylvania

Photo by jiggs1960, courtesy Traillink.com

If you've got the time, the 165-mile D & L Trail through eastern Pennsylvania is a journey through many eras of American history. Here are just a few historic highlights of this wonderful cross-state rail-trail:

In Catasauqua, about 70 miles north-east of Philadelphia, the trail runs right by the George Taylor House, a National Historic Landmark that was the residence of one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

In Allentown, see where the Liberty Bell was hidden from British forces during the Revolutionary War.

In Easton, the Declaration of Independence was read from the steps of Northampton County's first Court House on July 8, 1776, just the third time it had been read to the American public. Easton Heritage Day, held this year on Sunday, July 7, celebrates that historic moment with colonial reenactments, period pageants and other festivities.

The trail passes by Washington Crossing Historic Park, where George Washington and a small army of men crossed the Delaware in a surprise attack that changed the course of the Revolutionary War. You may have seen the famous painting by Emanuel Leutze, but have you ever walked into the McConkey Ferry Inn, where Washington and his aides made plans the night of the crossing?

10 Minuteman Bikeway - Boston

This 11-mile Minuteman Bikeway offers a rolling history lesson. The corridor carries visitors through Lexington and near the Lexington Battle Green, where colonial militia-the minutemen-fired some of the first shots of the American Revolution in 1775.

Honorable Mentions

Richard Martin Trail (Limestone Rail-Trail) - Alabama

The 10-mile Richard Martin Trail passes through Sulphur Creek, the site of Alabama's bloodiest Civil War conflict. During the 1864 Battle of Sulphur Creek Trestle, a Tennessee & Alabama Central Railroad supply train moving Union Army troops and goods from Nashville to Atlanta came under attack; more than 200 soldiers were killed.

Capital Crescent Trail - Washington, D.C.

This 11-mile Capital Crescent Trail takes you from the peaceful woods of Silver Spring, Md., to the historical waterfront of Georgetown in Washington, D.C.-and only a short bridge ride over the Potomac River to Arlington National Cemetery, where you can take part in Memorial Day activities. It's a great route to reach the fireworks show in the nation's capital without the hassle of crowds or parking.

This post was originally published on June 28, 2013. This republished version includes minor revisions and corrections.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/02/top-10-rail-trails-for-american-history-a-fourth-of-july-list/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/july/02/top-10-rail-trails-for-american-history-a-fourth-of-july-list/Thu, 02 July 2015 11:30:56 Transforming Chattanooga: How Rail-with-Trail Is Shaping the City's FutureKatie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/june/26/transforming-chattanooga-how-rail-with-trail-is-shaping-the-citys-future/October 1969. You sit down with your family to watch the evening news broadcast as the cool fall air billows in your window. Walter Cronkite’s familiar voice announces that tonight’s broadcast is focusing on your city, Chattanooga, Tennessee! Unfortunately, Cronkite’s feature unveils Chattanooga as the Dirtiest City in America. What will your city look like in 45 years if the status quo remains and the pollution levels stay steady? The future looks smog-ridden and bleak.

Luckily, the Chattanooga of today is leaps and bounds away from that bleak vision. In fact, the city, which has been nicknamed Scenic City, earned the title of Outside Magazine’s Best Town in 2015. Incredible clean-up efforts and changes in local policies and perceptions deviated the city from what would have been a collision course for ruin. Now, Chattanooga boasts a flourishing outdoor culture and can proudly consider itself a healthy place for recreation, green space and living a full and healthy life.

Tennessee Riverwalk | Photo courtesy The Trust for Public Land

Opportunities for active transportation have a lot to do with this dramatic change in direction. More than a decade of work by city leaders, cycling advocates and outdoor enthusiasts has led Chattanooga to become a more walkable, bikeable place. The Tennessee Riverwalk, for example, covers 10 miles and is being extended another 20, cutting a swath through the city. Over the next four years, under the Chattanooga Bicycle Implementation Plan, the city will increase bicycle facilities more than five-fold, from 74 miles to a projected 399 miles.

Still, the Riverwalk bypasses most neighborhoods, and most of the new bicycle facilities will take the form of marked bike lanes and signed bike routes rather than protected bike lanes and greenways. Little attention has been paid to tapping into the nearly 150 miles of rail corridor within the city. The reason: Much of it is still active and, therefore—so community planners thought—not available for trails or greenways.

That way of thinking changed when Kelly Pack, director of trail development with Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC), represented RTC at the Georgia Trail Summit in 2014. Pack was excited to share findings from RTC’s newest study on rails-with-trails.

Tennessee Riverwalk | Photo courtesy The Trust for Public Land

When Chattanooga local business leader and staunch bike advocate Jim Johnson paused at RTC’s exhibit, he and Pack talked about trails within or alongside active rail corridors, and a light bulb went off.

“We have more than 150 miles of rail corridor in Chattanooga,” says Johnson. “I immediately wondered how much of that might be appropriate for adjacent trails that might connect our neighborhoods and our downtown. I knew this was an opportunity.”

Johnson returned to Chattanooga and shared the idea with leaders at The Trust for Public Land (TPL), the Chattanooga Department of Transportation (DOT) and local foundations. They quickly realized that the present rail network remained an untapped resource for expanding the city’s trail network.

According to Pack, the rail system is something that exists but is not something in the front of the minds of community members in Chattanooga. “People occasionally cross the tracks or hear a train come through, but because there is no commuter passenger rail, it’s hard for the community to envision where these corridors could go or, more importantly, the places that they could be connecting,” says Pack.

South Chickamauga Creek Greenway | Photo courtesy The Trust for Public Land

Community destination connections include schools, residential and retail development, and city parks. Other destinations would no doubt be two of Chattanooga’s biggest employers, Volkswagen and Amazon.

Along with Johnson, RTC teamed up with TPL and Chattanooga DOT to assess the corridors in question and develop suggestions for moving forward.

Chattanooga is an interesting case because the history of the city is intimately tied to the railroad. In fact, the introduction and location of rail lines into the city shaped its commercial, neighborhood and industrial contours. And that is why the potential for rail-with-trail is so immense. Including trails into the corridors that swoop through Chattanooga could be just as significant to the city’s future as was the railroad’s boom of days past.

Drawing from the experience of the hundreds of communities that have successfully developed trails within or immediately adjacent to active railroad corridors, RTC has long led the discussion on rail-with-trail, and it will continue to do so as communities like Chattanooga increasingly see the value of trails. “The people of Chattanooga are increasingly excited about using trails for transportation,” says Johnson. “Trails are part of the fabric of our future, not just our past. It speaks to the essence of a community if [it] makes trails a priority. And Chattanooga is doing just that.”

It should come as a relief to current Chattanooga citizens that Walter Cronkite would not be able to recognize it as the city he reported on in the late 1960s. Chattanooga has made great progress and will continue to evolve, with the focus on trails enhancing and strengthening the city’s future.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/june/26/transforming-chattanooga-how-rail-with-trail-is-shaping-the-citys-future/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/june/26/transforming-chattanooga-how-rail-with-trail-is-shaping-the-citys-future/Fri, 26 June 2015 10:09:13 Senate Bill Inadequately Funds Walking, Biking, but Provides Innovative Financing OptionsKevin Millshttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/june/23/senate-bill-inadequately-funds-walking-biking-but-provides-innovative-financing-options/Update (6/24/15): The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee voted without dissent today to pass the DRIVE Act (S. 1647). The next step is for other committees to complete their portions of the reauthorization bill. Most notably, the Senate Finance Committee needs to find funding to pay for the bill. Sen. Cardin did not offer his amendment to increase TAP funding, but he vowed to use his Finance Committee seat to pursue additional revenue that could enable more robust funding. The committee bill included a technical correction to clarify that states would no longer be able to transfer TAP funds to other uses such as highways, rolling back a damaging feature of current law.

On June 24, 2015, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will consider a bill that would freeze funding for the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP)—the biggest source of funding for walking and biking—for the next six years at a level wholly inadequate to meet burgeoning demand. The bill also would make low-interest loans available for smaller active-transportation projects.

The Committee plans to vote on the DRIVE Act (Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy Act), a bill that lays out the funding for the nation’s transportation infrastructure through 2021. Under the bill, TAP would be set at a fixed dollar amount of $850 million for the next six years rather than at the current rate of 2 percent of the overall highway account. Since the bill slates highway programs to rise more than 20 percent, funding TAP at a flat rate would reduce available money for active transportation by $130 million in 2021.

As written, the bill would discontinue the 25-year-old practice of tying TAP funding to highway accounts as a percentage. We don’t object to standing on our own, but we think the Senate is misguided to allow the buying power of TAP to drop over time, especially after cutting TAP funding by a third in 2012 despite skyrocketing demand for safe walking and biking routes.

Fortunately, there is some good news. The bill includes a provision sought by RTC to make innovative low-interest financing (TIFIA) more feasible for trail and active-transportation networks. Specifically, the bill would reduce the minimum eligible project size to $10 million from $50 million for projects involving local governments, make it easier to aggregate projects to meet that threshold and allow state infrastructure banks to use TIFIA to make accessible loans.

The most notable policy changes to TAP involve money passed through to regions and localities. TAP funds would be allocated in proportion to population, and urban areas would be given more control over project selection. In addition, regions would be allowed to pass-through funds to localities to implement their own competitive TAP processes.

While stagnant TAP funding is disappointing, the bill makes clear that senators seeking to eliminate the program lack a constituency. The tireless efforts of our members and supporters have been instrumental in preserving this crucial program, and working together going forward, we have the opportunity to increase the priority given to trail and active-transportation networks.

How have I prepared for this awesome 200-mile, six-day ride? Let me count the ways…

1I read through the event ride guide.

Not only did I clarify where I need to show up on the first day (and confirmed that my coffee habit will be well taken care of), I also learned about the town of Dunbar, where we’ll be staying for two nights. Dunbar sits on the Sheepskin Trail and is ready for a trail-town revival. I can’t wait to see what Dunbar’s all about and how the development of the Sheepskin will transform the community!

2I took my bike to the shop for a checkup.

The salt, grit and grime from winter came off last weekend when I gave my bike a thorough cleaning. But I needed new brake pads and also thought it would be a good idea to let a professional give my trusty steed the onceover. Now I’ll be rolling along the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) with confidence that everything’s working the way it should.

Photo by Cleo Fogel

3I’ve packed, unpacked and packed again.

For some folks, packing is more fun than the actual trip. That’s not true for me, but I still want to make sure that I’m bringing the right gear. This year, I’ve made a vital addition to my sojourn packing list: a fishing rod. I can’t wait to join the fishermen on the banks of the mighty Youghiogheny River, which the GAP parallels! Those Pennsylvania trout better watch out…

4I’ve purchased my “must-have” snacks to power me up when my energy is waning.

I have a confession: I’m addicted to peanut butter. That stuff powers me day in and day out. And while the food on the sojourn is always delicious, I like to have something in my back pocket that I know will get me through when I still have 10 miles to go before camp.

5I’ve thought about all the things I’m going to learn.

One of the greatest things about the sojourn is getting a peek into the trail development world. Often, we get wrapped up in the pure enjoyment of using trails, but an incredible amount of work goes into building them! On the trip, I’ll get to meet members of the Montour Trail Council, learn about the progress on the Pinkerton Tunnel and hear about what it will take to build out the Sheepskin Trail. I love learning about the challenges behind trail development and thanking the local folks who are working hard to get the trails we love off (or on!) the ground!

Photo by Jim Brown

6I’ve prepared for the worst, but I’m hopeful for the best!

I always pack a rain jacket even if the forecast is clear skies. You just never know what Mother Nature will throw your way. That being said, I’m confident that any rainstorm will be small potatoes compared to the great time I’m having on the trail.

7I’ve worked myself up over the “unknowns.”

This isn’t my first rodeo, but on every trip, there will be unforeseen things that come up. Will I get a flat tire? Will I have to camp next to the loudest snorer? What if I forget my headlamp? Will my fellow riders be interesting?

The sojourn is an adventure, and this year, I get to share it with nearly 300 other trail enthusiasts from 42 states! The unknowns are irrelevant when I think about all the great experiences that I’ll come home with after the week is done.

Keep track of our journey by following RTC on Facebook! We’ll occasionally post updates throughout the week with stories and photos from the trail. Here’s to a great sojourn!

On or about June 12, 2015, Nebraska, Kansas & Colorado Railway filed for the abandonment of 57.31 total miles of disconnected track in Decatur, Norton and Phillips Counties, Kansas, and Harlan County, Nebraska. We are providing this information because it presents an opportunity to develop a real regional asset: a multi-use trail that can accommodate hikers, bikers, equestrians and other appropriate uses.

Next Steps

If this corridor is suitable for trail use, we strongly urge local trail advocates, or an appropriate local, regional or state agency or organization, to take action now. A “boiler plate” letter (found here) can be filed with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) and the abandoning railroad using STB docket number AB-1032 (sub-no. 0x). Filing this letter does not commit its authors to acquire the corridor; it merely gives time to develop a rail-trail proposal and undertake negotiations with the railroad. According to the information we have received, the deadline for filing this letter is July 12, 2015. Even if this deadline is missed, there is probably still time to contact the relevant parties, since the railroad may have experienced a delay in filing all of the paperwork, or the STB may still have jurisdiction over the corridor. However, it is important to take prompt action. The STB posts all abandonment decisions and filings on its website, including the complete filing for this corridor. More information on the rail corridor, including a map, can be found in this filing, or view a clearer map of the approximate route here.

The STB has imposed a $300 filing fee for all railbanking requests. Entities filing a railbanking request may request a fee waiver or reduction, and government agencies will receive an automatic fee waiver. Throughout the process, make sure local government officials and citizen activists are kept informed of the project’s progress. We also recommend contacting your state trails coordinator or your state bicycle/pedestrian coordinator.

All of these individuals are knowledgeable about state laws and resources and may be able to assist your community with this rail-trail project. Also, you may want to contact the abandoning railroad to add your name to their service list.

Additional Resources

RTC’s website may provide valuable tools as you plan for a rail-trail, including how-to manuals, the Trail-Building Toolbox, our Resource Library and the Trails & Greenways Listserv for trail advocates and professionals. These resources can be found within the “Build Trails” section of our website. If you take advantage of this information and other resources promptly, you will be well on your way to creating a successful rail-trail in your community. For more information, or if you decide to pursue railbanking, please contact our Trail Development Department.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/june/17/notice-upcoming-railroad-abandonment-in-decatur-norton-and-phillips-counties-kan-and-harlan-county-neb/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/june/17/notice-upcoming-railroad-abandonment-in-decatur-norton-and-phillips-counties-kan-and-harlan-county-neb/Wed, 17 June 2015 11:48:34 The Trail That Started It All: Elroy-Sparta Celebrates 50 YearsElizabeth Strianohttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/june/15/the-trail-that-started-it-all-elroy-sparta-celebrates-50-years/Earlier this month, one of the oldest rail-trails in the nation turned 50! But not only is the Elroy-Sparta State Trail the oldest trail in the state of Wisconsin and one of the oldest in the United States, it is also America’s very first rail-trail.

RTC President Keith Laughlin joined local leaders and residents from several towns along the trail’s path at a 50th anniversary ceremony sponsored by Friends of the Elroy-Sparta State Trail. In brief remarks to the crowd, Laughlin admired the trail’s beauty and acknowledged its historic position as the first rail-trail conversion in the United States, paving the way for 1,911 rail-trails that currently exist and more than 715 projects that await completion.

“This first 32 miles between Elroy and Sparta 50 years ago has now led to 22,000 miles of these trails across the entire country that are used by tens of millions of Americans every year,” Laughlin said.

Keith rode to the event from Wilton to Kendall along with 50 other bicycle riders from all the communities along the Elroy-Sparta, including former Governor Tommy Thompson, whose father helped establish the trail. Thompson shared a detailed history of the rail line with the crowd. The state purchased the right-of-way for the trail from the Chicago and North Western Railway in 1965 for $12,000; two years later, the trail opened to the public.

The 32.5-mile rail-trail passes through the quiet country towns of Elroy and Sparta, as well as the towns between them, including Norwalk, Wilton and Kendall. The trail is particularly well-known for its three century-old railroad tunnels, which remain adorned by their original wooden doors. The crushed-stone trail winds through rolling hills, farmland and pasture.

“It’s truly part of our transportation network.”

Sun, sea, and sandy beaches: Florida’s Sanibel Island is a summer sanctuary. Better yet, the island’s extensive shared-use path system—totaling 24 paved miles—provides access to it all: beaches, a wildlife refuge and rehabilitation center, a historical lighthouse and village, a renowned seashell museum, restaurants, shops and just about everything else in this laid-back community on the Gulf Coast. It’s the type of place where nary a building stands taller than a palm tree, and many of the streets are named after types of shells or mariner terms like Anchor Drive and Captains Walk.

Middle Gulf Path | Photo by Tom Sharbaugh

“I call it Mayberry by the Sea,” says Tom Sharbaugh of the idyllic City of Sanibel, which encompasses the entire island. “The focus is on the beach; it’s on nature; it’s on riding a bike, so a lot of families come here. And, if you live here, you never have to get in your car. You can cycle every place you want to go.”

Sharbaugh is an active member of the Sanibel Bicycle Club, which began two decades ago for social and recreational get-togethers and has evolved into an advocacy group for the trail and cycling. Recently, the club launched a well-received educational video to help both tourists and locals bike on the island safely.

“A ton of people come for vacation, and a lot of them live in places that aren’t so cycling friendly,” says Sharbaugh, noting that the peak tourist season typically runs from mid-January to late spring. “So it’s a big attraction for them to come here and rent bikes and get out on the trail. We have grandmas and grandpas and kids of all ages, so there’s a range of skillsets on the trail.”

Just this year, FamilyFun magazine ranked Sanibel as the number one tourist town for families in the country. But this is no Disney World. Nature takes center stage in this corner of Florida, and the island’s J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge—perhaps second only to its beaches—is a main attraction. The massive refuge, sprawling over 6,400 acres, is part of the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the United States and offers unparalleled opportunities for viewing wildlife, including alligators, bobcats, river otters, turtles and more than 245 species of birds. The paved pathway leads to its doorstep, and then visitors can bike through the refuge with an on-road route, or opt for a hike or explorations by kayak or canoe.

Photo courtesy Billy's Rentals

“We’re an extremely environmentally conscious community,” says Judie Zimomra, Sanibel’s city manager. “Nearly 70 percent of the island is set aside in perpetuity for environmental conservation.”

Salli Kirkland, who co-owns an island bike shop called Billy’s Rentals with her husband, agrees. “The city wrote up a plan to keep development to a minimum. There are no bright lights here, no neon. We don’t even have traffic lights. You can see the stars at night.”

The Kirklands started their bike rental shop just off the bike path 15 years ago, and Salli says business has continued to grow every year. “Because it’s an island, the roads can get congested,” she says. “You can actually get to places faster by bike, and almost every business has bike racks.”

The vision for the island’s pathways dates back to 1972, when four local housewives sought to create a way for their children to get to and from elementary school safely. A lack of sidewalks, coupled with narrow roads with no bike lanes or shoulders, made getting around by bike or foot nearly impossible. Together, Grace Whitehead, Mariel Goss, Sherry Vartdal and Starr Thomas formed the Sanibel Bike Path Committee and fundraised for the development of a new bike path. In 1976, thanks to their efforts, the first 2.5-mile section of the bike path was built along Periwinkle Way, the island’s main street.

Today, biking or walking to school, work or for other errands is safe, convenient and—due to the island’s flatness—very easy.

Photos courtesy Billy's Rentals

Today, biking or walking to school, work or for other errands is safe, convenient and—due to the island’s flatness—very easy. In 2014, the city was designated a bike-friendly community at the Silver Level by the League of American Bicyclists, a feat matched only by three other (much larger) Florida communities.

Zimomra notes that the city is continually improving and expanding on the network—investing more than $1.1 million into the path system since 2007—making it possible to now get from one end of the 12-mile island to the other entirely by bike. Numerous unpaved spurs also branch off its main paved spine to link to parks and other attractions; a new connection to popular Bowman’s Beach will begin construction this year.

“It’s truly part of our transportation network,” says Zimomra.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/june/15/florida-s-sanibel-island-shared-use-paths/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/june/15/florida-s-sanibel-island-shared-use-paths/Mon, 15 June 2015 15:24:51 Congress Extends Transportation Legislation Again; Attacks on Walking and Biking on the RisePatrick Wojahnhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/june/08/congress-extends-transportation-legislation-again-attacks-on-walking-and-biking-on-the-rise/Since publication of this blog, RTC has delivered copies of our organizational sign-on letter to members of Congress on key committees and leaders that are addressing transportation funding issues. Our letter was signed by more than 300 organizations, representing millions of Americans in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, urging Congress to support federal funding for bicycle and pedestrian trails and other safe routes for active transportation. Signers include nearly every major health, environmental and recreational organization in the United States. A press release is also available.

At the end of May, the president signed an extension of MAP-21, the nation’s surface transportation law to fund roads, bridges, public transportation, and walking and biking projects, just as the current law was set to expire.

This is the latest in a long series of stopgap measures to keep funding coming for our nation’s surface transportation infrastructure. With just a two-month extension in place, it is unlikely that a long-term bill will be ready by July 31, and the most likely outcome is that the current legislation will be extended again.

Take action now! Tell Congress to oppose any attacks on funding for trails and active transportation!

With attention in Congress shifting to longer-term funding solutions, attacks on federal support for walking and biking are on the rise again. In fact, last week, Rep. Sam Johnson (Texas-03) introduced a bill (H.R. 2609) to eliminate the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP)—the nation’s largest dedicated source of funding for trails, walking and biking.

Rep. Johnson suggests eliminating dedicated TAP funds and redirecting them toward road and bridge repair. Not only would his ill-advised plan eliminate the largest source of federal funds for trails, and walking and biking networks, but given what a small portion of the overall transportation funding TAP funds comprise, it would do very little to help address America’s other transportation needs.

While some in Congress like Rep. Johnson are still focused on an auto-centric model that is old-fashioned and outdated, many Americans want to see a new transportation system with options that include safe places for walking and biking.

RTC's recent national poll showed that American voters want a transportation system that allows them to choose whether to drive, take public transit, or walk or bike to their destinations. The public is prepared to invest in a multi-modal system. When asked to distribute $100 of hypothetical taxes on transportation, voters on average allocated $27 to walking and biking—a remarkable 18 times the current share.

In the United States, half of all car trips could be completed with a 20-minute bicycle ride, and a quarter could be completed with a 20-minute walk. In 2009, the most recent year for which national data is available, RTC estimates that walking and biking saved $4 billion in gasoline, prevented 14 million tons of carbon dioxide from being emitted into the atmosphere and prevented 26,000 premature deaths due to the lack of physical activity. By building connected networks of trails, sidewalks and protected bike lanes, we can convert more car trips and save even more.

We would also provide mobility options for the growing number of Americans who cannot or choose not to drive—including millennials in the workforce, senior citizens, children and people with disabilities. It is time for today’s transportation options to include safe places for everyone, everywhere.

With Congress continuing to work on a long-term bill, RTC is fighting back against attacks on active transportation and continuing to advocate for more investment in trails, walking and biking as part of a modern transportation system. We encourage you to be a part of this movement by sending a message to your representative and senators today.

Take action now. Tell Congress to oppose any attacks on funding for trails and active transportation!

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/june/08/congress-extends-transportation-legislation-again-attacks-on-walking-and-biking-on-the-rise/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/june/08/congress-extends-transportation-legislation-again-attacks-on-walking-and-biking-on-the-rise/Mon, 08 June 2015 10:23:08 Eight Family-Friendly Trails to Celebrate National Trails DayKatie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/june/05/eight-family-friendly-trails-to-celebrate-national-trails-day/There are two great reasons to celebrate in early June: the end of the school year...and National Trails Day! To help kick things off right, RTC is pleased to bring you this list of eight of the most family-friendly, “School’s out for summer!” trails in the country.

Rickenbacker Trail

Florida, 8.5 miles

Pristine beaches, coastal dunes, snorkeling and an amusement center: You can find all these fun amenities—and more—along the Rickenbacker Trail on Key Biscayne, an island just south of Miami, Florida. Crandon Park, which covers more than 800 acres on the northern end of the island, was once a coconut plantation. At the southern end is Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, where a well-deserved snorkeling excursion is highly encouraged after your eight-mile journey. Note: Your kiddos will beg to get a birds-eye view from the historic lighthouse on the southern tip of the key.

Steam into History Civil War-era replica train at Heritage Rail-Trail County Park, Pa. | Photo by John Gensor

Heritage Rail Trail County Park

Pennsylvania, 22 miles

If the Civil War-era replica train that chugs alongside the trail at Heritage Rail Trail County Park doesn’t entice your young’uns, then the costumed interpreters sure will. There’s nothing quite like a fully-bearded Abe Lincoln look-alike to spice up your trail experience! The history alongside the trail is rich, and visitors can unearth new discoveries around every turn. You’ll have to visit for yourself to get the full experience!

Tony Knowles Nature Trail

Alaska, 11 miles

A trip to Anchorage wouldn’t be complete without a journey along the Tony Knowles Nature Trail. One of the neatest features is the Anchorage Light Speed Planet Walk, a scale model of our solar system that translates your walking pace into the speed of light! A local high school graduate, Eli Menaker, designed the walk, which is sure to intrigue kids of any age!

Discovery Trail

WASHINGTON, 7.1 MILES

Are your kids explorers at heart? If so, why not check out the Discovery Trail in the southwest corner of the Evergreen State? Bronze sculptures that commemorate the Lewis and Clark Expedition line the path. Take a break at Beard's Hollow, and gaze over the mighty Pacific Ocean. Close out your day at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, where historians will give you the inside scoop on the famous expedition that would help change the face of the United States.

Trestle ride on the Route of the Hiawatha, Idaho | Photo by Chuck Schmidt

Route of the Hiawatha

IDAHO, 15 MILES

Big skies and dense forest landscapes dominate the Route of the Hiawatha. Travel above the trees as you cross the many trestles along the way. Be prepared for some heights; kids will squeal as they peer down into the depths below!

Gen. James A. Van Fleet State Trail

Florida, 29 miles

This 29-mile trail invites more than just two-legged trail users! Your kids will love to scout for armadillos, buzzards, tortoises, and possibly an alligator or two basking on the trail's warm asphalt surface. An additional bonus: The entire trail is completely paved and smooth sailing for little ones. As the trail meanders through the massive Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve, you’ll forget that you’re only an hour from Disney World!

Lackawanna Rail Trail

NEW YORK, 3.2 MILES

A short-but-sweet one, the Lackawanna Rail Trail harkens back to times past. In the north, you’ll find Eldridge Park, once home to an amusement park of the same name. Take a ride on the restored carousel, pop into the dance hall pavilion, check out the arcade, and appease your sweet tooth at the ice cream shop. Fun for the whole family!

On the Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail, Calif. | Photo by RTC/Laura Cohen

Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail

California, 25 miles

This Rail-Trail Hall-of-Fame trail in the Golden State is so much more than just a converted railroad bed; it’s a celebrated community gem! Susanville, the town at the eastern terminus, hosts a Rails to Trails Festival each year, which includes a salsa and chili cook-off, and a handcar race. How cool is that? This year’s festivities are on Oct. 10, so get your kids on board, and start planning now!

For more trails across the country, and to find a trail near you, visit TrailLink.com!

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/june/05/eight-family-friendly-trails-to-celebrate-national-trails-day/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/june/05/eight-family-friendly-trails-to-celebrate-national-trails-day/Fri, 05 June 2015 10:00:00 Charm City by Bike: Baltimore Program Gets Residents on Two WheelsKatie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/june/02/charm-city-by-bike-baltimore-program-gets-residents-on-two-wheels/Baltimore, Maryland, has more than 6,000 acres of parkland and public space. But for some Charm City residents, these urban gems are giant unknowns—green placeholders on a map, but unexplored and undiscovered in real life.

Fortunately, one program in particular, Bike Around, is helping to change that. Administered by Baltimore’s Department of Recreation and Parks and funded in part by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Bike Around is getting folks on two wheels and allowing residents to experience their urban parkland from a different perspective.

Happy Bike Around participants pose for the camera. | Photo by Molly Gallant

Here’s how it works: You show up at a predetermined location—one of Baltimore’s fantastic urban parks. You then hand over a photo ID for collateral and hop on one of the many blue cruisers available for loan. Donate a few dollars if you can, and go on your merry way! Whether you return in five minutes or a few hours is up to you!

For beginner cyclists or folks being reintroduced to riding, the program is ideal.

Simplicity is the key to the program’s success, according to Molly Gallant, outdoor recreation coordinator for the City of Baltimore. By choosing simple locations (the paths around the city’s reservoirs are flat and easy to navigate), having user-friendly bikes (the cruisers have coaster brakes that allow riders of any experience level to feel confident) and asking for a small donation, the barriers to getting involved are quite low. “We’re trying to take away all the barriers to riding,” says Gallant.

And the benefits of the program reach beyond the bike fleet. Gallant recounts an exchange that she had a few months into the program, when they couldn’t host enough Bike Arounds to keep up with demand. One evening while Gallant and her team scrambled to facilitate an additional riding opportunity, two women cruised by on matching bicycles with the wind in their hair and smiles plastered on their faces. As they breezed past Gallant, they shouted, “We couldn’t wait for you! We went out and bought our own bikes!”

Jim Brown, RTC’s trail development manager and a Baltimore native, says that the program helps to break down barriers regarding access to parkland and trails. “This program democratizes riding bikes and enjoying the outdoors,” he says. “It’s another avenue that allows people to enjoy all the features of our city and a way to really appreciate where we live.”

In fact, the program is turning residents into supporters of their parks and trails by allowing them to experience their city in a new way. Gallant says when people find empowerment through a bike ride, the city of Baltimore shines in a new light. “When you feel competent and capable, you appreciate your community even more!” she says.

Gallant explains that Baltimore’s program is unique in that it’s not a bike share or a bike rental. The program has been set up in a way to eliminate the most barriers possible and accommodate every resident.

And it’s working. Thousands of people take out the fleet every summer, and while the program’s expansion means that there is no longer a waiting list for bikes at the reservoir, the excitement around the program has only grown. Gallant and her team are ramping up for the summer season and expect folks to be coming out at every opportunity. There are no longer reasons not to Ride Around!

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/june/02/charm-city-by-bike-baltimore-program-gets-residents-on-two-wheels/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/june/02/charm-city-by-bike-baltimore-program-gets-residents-on-two-wheels/Tue, 02 June 2015 17:53:55 History Happened Here: Sidepaths and the Persistent Dreams of Trail BuildingJames Longhursthttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/may/27/history-happened-here-sidepaths-and-the-persistent-dreams-of-trail-building/As we close out Bike Month, we're pleased to run this guest blog exploring the history of bike paths in America by Dr. James Longhurst, associate history professor at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse.

Right now, in the middle of the 21st-century bike boom, the rail-trail movement is the most successful way to build trails for bikers and walkers. But it’s certainly not the first; many other plans for trail building have come and gone.

Bicyclists were looking for places to ride just as soon as the high wheel appeared in America. Particularly when the easily mastered “safety” bicycle became widely available in the 1890s, cyclists built separate trails for their own use. These riders weren’t yet trying to get off the road—automobile traffic did not yet exist—but were instead dealing with two 19th-century problems. First, roads outside of cities were unpaved and haphazardly engineered, impassable in bad weather and rutted in good weather. Second, there were very few roads overall.

Sidepaths magazine cover, December 1900

The first successful idea was for cyclists to build paths on their own through club membership or contributions. These were generally recreational trails that connected cities to nearby lakes or tourist attractions; they cut through fields and forests and didn’t necessarily follow existing roads. For example, in 1895, Chicago cyclists proposed “a sort of bridle path, such as is provided for equestrians, except of course with a different surface” in their parks.

But the bike boom soon overwhelmed voluntary cycle-path building, leading one cyclist to propose in 1897 a far reaching-plan “to induce railway companies to build cycle paths along their rights of way. They could be built of cinders, at small expense to the companies, and easily maintained.” The benefits of building alongside railroad tracks were numerous: “Good riding surface, absence of grades; direct connections between points; stations and mile posts would show distances…frequent wagon-road crossings would afford connections in all directions…” and more. But this idea wouldn’t take hold for almost a century; 19th-century railroads weren’t known for their charity, no matter how small the expense.

By 1897, riders in upstate New York came up with another new idea called a “sidepath.” They proposed a separate, bicycle-specific network of paths, paved and maintained by the sale of legally required sidepath tags, and enabled by state laws creating county commissions. Like sidewalks, sidepaths would be built alongside existing roads, in the existing right-of-way. The New York cities of Rochester and Niagara, as well as Minnesota’s Minneapolis and St. Paul, each built hundreds of miles of these hard-surfaced paths.

Still, there were complications: States that tried to build sidepaths through taxes rather than tag sales ran into legal and political opposition, and the national League of American Wheelmen (LAW) originally had mixed feelings about separate paths undermining their support for paving new roads. But by the turn of the century, states and cities across the nation had built successful networks, which were chronicled in the popular press and Sidepaths, the magazine of the movement. Journalists were dreaming of a transnational network of bicycle-only paths stretching uninterrupted “from New York to Buffalo and between Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee and Minneapolis,” thus creating a “transcontinental highway” of sidepaths, putting Europe to shame and making the United States “pre-eminently the country for tourists.” By 1900, even the LAW was convinced; one league publication predicted that “within five years, this country will possess a system of sidepaths that will extend almost everywhere.”

Sidepath tag – Suffolk County, New York, 1899

But the sidepath movement died out as quickly as it appeared. The bike boom itself was fading, and the legislative successes of the Good Roads movement seemed to make sidepaths unnecessary. These new, taxpayer-funded roads paved over sidepaths where they had been built. Cyclists weren’t overly concerned; without significant automobile traffic, the new roads seemed to be a dream come true.

Still, as cars became more numerous throughout the 20th century, cyclists and hikers kept returning to ideas for separate trails. Some advocates were calling these “bikeways.” By 1964, Secretary Stewart Udall’s Department of the Interior was promoting trails, paths, lanes and routes under that catch-all term. The next year, Udall commissioned the study that would eventually produce the Trails for America report, calling for new hiking trails and bikeways. “To avoid crossing motor vehicle traffic,” said the report, “bikeways would be located along landscaped shoulder areas on frontage roads next to freeways and expressways, along shorelines, and on abandoned railroad rights-of-way,” or “along quiet back streets and alleys.” It was a fine idea, but there wasn’t a lot of federal money available. While some bikeways were built, it wasn’t until later decades that “rail-trails” emerged out of the list of suggested bikeway locations as the more successful model.

Remembering some of this forgotten history might help us treasure the success of rail-trails but also remind us of backup plans and alternatives. It’s clear that money and politics can endanger these visions—but also that the power of persistent dreams keeps driving innovative plans for trails.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/may/27/history-happened-here-sidepaths-and-the-persistent-dreams-of-trail-building/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/may/27/history-happened-here-sidepaths-and-the-persistent-dreams-of-trail-building/Wed, 27 May 2015 10:13:13 A Well-Fought Battle for Good: The Armstrong TrailKatie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/may/23/a-well-fought-battle-for-good-the-armstrong-trail/The 36-mile Armstrong Trail was forged in a fire hotter than any other. And, as the saying goes, those types of fires forge the strongest steel.

The Armstrong Trail runs along the former Allegheny Valley Railroad, which helped haul freight and passengers from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to as far as Buffalo, New York, from the 1850s until 1941. The story of the Armstrong Trail begins in 1989, when leaders in Allegheny County invited more than a dozen groups to come together and discuss how to protect and preserve the corridor.

Dave Rupert, then corresponding secretary of the Armstrong County Conservancy, remembers the meeting vividly. He brought the proposition back to his board and pitched the idea of taking on the project in collaboration with Allegheny Valley Land Trust (which officially formed in 1991, and purchased and railbanked the corridor in 1992).

“At that point I thought it would be a fairly simple process,” says Rupert. "The organization thought that we’d be involved for a just few years before passing it off to the county. We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into.”

Learning to ride on the Armstrong Trail | Photo by Ron Steffey

Many trail-building stories have elements of opposition, but this one had a twist. The folks who didn’t see the value in the rail conversion were galvanized by one individual, a very vocal and eloquent man who was upset about what he perceived as an unfair acquisition of his land by the railroad company decades before—and who vowed to spend the rest of his life fighting against the development of the trail, explains Rupert. Others who aligned themselves with this individual had very strong local ties to the land that the railroad had acquired from their ancestors.

And although some would claim his anger and resentment were misplaced, it didn’t change the reality that the Armstrong County Conservancy and the Allegheny Valley Land Trust were now facing a major challenge. The opposition mobilized and brought the trail developers to court.

From that moment, Rupert and his fellow board members had a difficult decision to make. They could cut their losses, pay off their loan and abandon the project. Or, they could band together and unite for the trail, see the project through from vision to reality, and transform the corridor into a community trail the likes of which the towns in the region had never seen before.

AmeriCorps volunteers smile for the camera during a day of service on the Armstrong Trail | Photo by Ron Steffey

But this board wasn’t made up of defeatists. The first option was scraped, the latter was adopted with conviction, and trail supporters banded together for what would be a tumultuous two decades to come.

The battle went on for more than 16 years. The opposition forces sued the board collectively and sued three of the board members individually. They tried to split the board by attempting to strike secret deals. They acted in an intimidating manner at various trail events and tried to sabotage nearly every step of the trail development process.

The trail advocates were undeterred. In fact, the opposition’s efforts to defeat the project were, in reality, fueling the fire to complete the trail, according to Rupert. “Every time we completed a section of trail, it was one more way to show them that we were going to keep going,” he says. “People attacked us as an organization and as individuals. But every attack just strengthened the resolve to keep pushing forward.”

The trail was built in segments, and the organization tied together the segments that they were able to complete with city streets, alley ways and on-road segments. “Eventually, we knew that the tides would turn in our favor and that the public outcry was going to be to connect the sections,” says Rupert.

The Armstrong Trail today | Photo by Ron Steffey

So what keeps someone motivated when people are constantly fighting their every action? For Rupert, it was a promise he had made to his mother.

“My mom lived adjacent to the corridor and always wanted to have a trail near her house,” he recalls. “She was semi-handicapped but could ride a trike. She just wanted a place near her home where she could enjoy nature with her grandchildren and be active.” The Armstrong Trail was just that thing, and Rupert promised his aging mother that he would see the trail through to completion. “Fortunately, she lived long enough to see a part of the trail built during her lifetime. I promised her that I would see the project through; that’s what kept me going.”

Also, Rupert’s kids kept his fire burning during the ongoing turmoil. The trail was a safe place where they could explore, be active and learn about local history. His connection with his mother and children gave perspective on the true importance of the trail.

There are people who had opposed the trail adamantly. Now, they walk their dogs and ride their bikes on the trail.

The final ruling came down in favor of the trail builders after years and years of twists and turns. The reality of the Armstrong Trail sunk in for both sides, and everyone was just ready to move forward. “There are people who had opposed the trail adamantly. Now, they walk their dogs and ride their bikes on the trail,” says Rupert. “That’s just the way it is.”

A fellow board member, Lee Calarie, explains that the members of the board were taking a risk when they decided to engage with the opposition. “We were putting our necks out a bit, we had the right group, and it paid off!” he affirms.

In Armstrong County, a simple list proves that the tides of public opinion have shifted; it’s the“40 Under 40” list of the most influential young professionals in the region. When asked what their favorite recreation activity was, the vast majority had the Armstrong Trail topping the chart.

Now, these new community leaders are using the trail, walking or riding with their own children, connecting with their community and enjoying their slice of Pennsylvania. The collective effort that forged the path for the new generation is far from forgotten, and the collective effort of the board goes down in local history as a well-fought battle for good.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/may/23/a-well-fought-battle-for-good-the-armstrong-trail/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/may/23/a-well-fought-battle-for-good-the-armstrong-trail/Sat, 23 May 2015 12:50:07 How to Plan Your First Overnight Bike TripKatie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/may/22/how-to-plan-your-first-overnight-bike-trip/Bike touring is rising in popularity across the country, and for good reason. Many seasoned cyclists will tell you: There’s no better way to experience a place than by bike.

If your relationship with your bike stops at day trips, the idea of a multi-day excursion might seem intimidating! Rest easy! These simple tips can help get you on your way to your first overnighter. And we bet it won’t be your last!

First, Ask Yourself…

What distance is reasonable? Are you comfortable on gravel trails, or would you prefer a paved path? Remember, this is your trip, so cater to your own desires. FYI: With RTC’s trail-finder website, Traillink.com, you can search for trails in your region and even sort them by activity and length.

Pick a Destination

Choosing a trail near your home is a smart way to go for your first trip. You know the area, and you’ll be more comfortable finding things you may need (e.g., ice cream) along the way. But if you don’t want to stay close to home, there are many fantastic candidates around the country for you to enjoy.

Plan Your Sleeping Arrangements

Is a night under the stars your style? Or would you prefer to indulge in the comfort of the trailside bed and breakfast (B&B)? Explore the campgrounds, B&Bs and hotels available along your route, and make advanced reservations when possible. Once you know where you’ll be resting your head, other planning aspects will be less stressful.

Check the Forecast

Be mindful of what the weather is predicted to be so you can plan accordingly.

Panniers like the one shown here can help lessen the load on one's back during a bike ride. | Photo courtesy Brad Reber | CC by 2.0

Don't Be Fooled

Be skeptical of a perfect weather forecast, and be prepared for it to change—without warning. You never know when Mother Nature will throw you a curveball, and a surprise rainstorm can be a real bummer when you aren’t equipped with the right gear. Be sure to pack a rain jacket and at least one extra warm layer (and plenty of socks). On the other extreme, multiple water bottles and sunscreen can also make a big difference, particularly if you’re riding through a very remote area.

Pack Up

A rear rack and a sturdy set of panniers can help ease your load, but a backpack is also a perfectly acceptable way to carry your gear (just know that it might get heavy by the end of your ride, depending on how much stuff you’ve got).

Bring Snacks

Staying fueled and hydrated is imperative on any self-propelled trip, but it is especially important when you aren’t returning to your home for the evening. Make sure you are eating throughout the day and drinking plenty of water.

Take a First Aid Kit

Anyone on a bike knows that minor bumps and bruises are possible—even on short trips.

Just Go!

The biggest mistake you can make during your first bike overnight is not going! There are a million excuses to stay home, and getting out the door can sometimes be the biggest challenge. But once you’re on the trail, you’ll be so glad you made the effort.

Enjoy It

Don’t rush through the experience! Listen to your body, and deal with minor injuries/tweaks before they become larger problems. Allow your trip to evolve, and be flexible when the unexpected happens.

In closing, know that your first overnight bike trip comes with a warning label: May Have Addictive Properties. It’s easy to get hooked on bike travel, and with your first trip under your belt, the opportunities (and trip ideas!) are limitless.

See you on the trail!

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/may/22/how-to-plan-your-first-overnight-bike-trip/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/may/22/how-to-plan-your-first-overnight-bike-trip/Fri, 22 May 2015 14:43:52 Destination: Virginia — Strolling the Chessie Nature TrailFrank N. Carlsonhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/may/18/destination-virginia-strolling-the-chessie-nature-trail/This feature originally appeared in the Fall 2014 edition of Rails to Trails magazine. One of many perks provided when you become an RTC member, our quarterly magazine includes lots of great stories like this.

In late fall, ash, oak and beech trees burn brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, where the Blue Ridge Mountains meet the Allegheny range. Interstate 81 cuts a gray asphalt ribbon southwest through this blaze of color.

Photo by Frank N. Carlson

On a chilly Friday night in late October, my girlfriend and I leave the interstate to check in at the Llewellyn Lodge bed and breakfast in Lexington, a small city in Shenandoah’s Rockbridge County that’s known for its Civil War history (both Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson are buried here) and its two colleges, Virginia Military Institute (VMI) and Washington and Lee University.

Around the breakfast table the next morning, recent grads and parents, in town for Washington and Lee’s alumni weekend, trade tips on faculty, fellowships and facilities. The pleasant innkeeper, John Roberts, offers that he was born up the road in Stonewall Jackson’s home, when the building still served as the city’s main hospital.

My girlfriend remarks that Roberts sounds like a late-night DJ, speaking in a soft voice but one that doesn’t hide his passion for Lexington, fishing local streams for rainbow trout and enjoying the Chessie Nature Trail. “On Sundays, you’re not supposed to walk the trail, but I’ve never heard of anyone being written up over it,” he says with a wink.

We don’t plan to wait until Sunday, though. Right after breakfast, we set off for the Chessie. It’s a quiet Saturday morning in Lexington, with an autumn frost on the grass. Just northeast of town we easily find the Chessie trailhead at VMI Island. (You can also start at the other end in the nearby town of Buena Vista.)

Photo by Frank N. Carlson

A trail information sheet says the Chessie is owned and maintained by VMI. The school acquired the corridor from The Nature Conservancy in 1979, after it was abandoned by the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway following Hurricane Camille.

Once part of the Richmond and Alleghany Railroad—and before that a canal towpath—the rail-trail is well maintained by the military school and well used by it as well, as evidenced by the packs of cadets frequently found running on it.

At the start of the trail, stone abutments fan out across the Maury River. They are remnants of a covered bridge that was wiped out by the 1969 hurricane. After admiring them from the overlook, we realize we are, in fact, on an island: With the bridge gone, the trailhead is really just a park. We cross the U.S. 11 concrete bridge to the north side of the river to begin our walk in earnest.

Wooden benches along the way offer places to stop and rest and enjoy the peace.

For just over seven miles, the trail hugs the Maury as it flows eastward, streaming under bridges, beside old warehouses and past pastures and homes and what’s left of the canal system. Wooden benches along the way offer places to stop and rest and enjoy the peace. We perch on rocks by the river and eat locally grown Honey Crisp apples that we’d stowed in our backpacks. Our view takes in Reid’s Lock and Dam, where evergreens grow out of the lock’s old stone walls.

Photo by Frank N. Carlson

As we move on, we often have the trail to ourselves. Occasionally we encounter walkers and runners of every age, all of them friendly. We greet a father and daughter walking their dog, an elderly couple looking for birds, a young couple taking photos of the radiant leaves.

“That’ll be 10 cents,” more than one passerby laughs, as I take their photos.

We come upon a group of cheerful volunteers searching out and bagging invasive plants. The unofficial spokeswoman, Lisa Tracy, works for the Rockbridge Area Conservation Council and says her group is trying to raise money to place signposts at the trailhead to prevent people like us from getting confused.

Technically, biking is allowed on the Chessie Trail, but you wouldn’t know from the signs and information guides. At any rate, the gravel and dirt path is too rough for road bikes and the gradient too flat to interest many mountain bikers. As the cool shadows grow, I think more than once about coming back in the dead of winter to cross-country ski.

Photos by Frank N. Carlson

After starting our walk at 9 a.m. and moving at a pretty leisurely pace, with plenty of stops along the way, we arrive at the cliffs beyond the I-81 bridge around noon before turning back. At 7.2 miles one way, the Chessie’s a bit much to take on if you’re just out for a stroll, and we want to get back to Lexington well before the restaurants begin closing their lunch shifts at 2:30 p.m. We pick up the pace, still stopping now and then to admire the colors and savor the silence.

A college friend who grew up in Lexington had recommended Bistro on Main, so that’s where we head. It’s a quiet place where you can get a taco salad or lump crab cake sandwich for around $10 each. We try a Blue Lab wheat beer (the brewery is located just up the street), which my girlfriend says is like a homemade Blue Moon.

Photo by Frank N. Carlson

After our late lunch, we walk across the street to Lexington Coffee Roasters, a specialty coffee shop where Brendan Hagerty offers tasting flights each Saturday.

Later, we could have headed over to Hull’s Drive-in, a few miles up Lee Highway, for a movie before crashing at Llewellyn Lodge for another night. To round out the weekend, on Sunday we could have headed west to walk a section of the 14-mile Jackson River Scenic Trail in Covington, Va., or gone east to the nearly seven-mile Virginia Blue Ridge Railway Trail in Piney River, each about an hour’s drive from Lexington.

Locals had also recommended visiting Natural Bridge, Va., where a river has cut a 20-story-high arch through solid limestone. And then there’s Goshen Pass, Virginia’s oldest natural preserve, a gorge that provides spectacular views of the Maury River and some of the best kayaking in the state, and is only about 15 miles upstream from the Chessie trailhead.

But all of that will have to wait. There are Halloween costumes to don and parties to attend and friends to see. The sun, never strong, is inching its way toward the mountains, and we have to settle for color-gazing along I-81 as we drive home to Washington, D.C.

Getting There:

Both Lexington and Buena Vista are just off I-81. It’s a beautiful drive by itself, but if you want something even more scenic, pop onto State Route 11, North Lee Highway.

About a half-hour’s drive north from the Chessie, you can check out Goshen Pass, a gorge overlooking the Maury River that offers scenic views and great kayaking. There’s also Natural Bridge about 20 minutes down Interstate 81.

Where to Stay:

You’ll find plenty of nice bed and breakfasts and hotels in and around Lexington. The B&Bs will run you a bit more money—between $100 and $200 a night—but are nice if you want a home-cooked meal and some local color. A B&B at Llewellyn Lodge is one option; host John Roberts also offers fly-fishing tours out of there. A cheaper place that’s closer to the Chessie trailhead is the Frog Hollow Bed and Breakfast. But be sure to book well in advance, as these fill up, especially during peak fall foliage.

Where to Eat:

Photo by Frank N. Carlson

Together, Lexington and Buena Vista offer a range of dining options to meet various appetites and budgets. Bistro on Main has a nice menu with local beers on tap and $10 sandwiches. The Southern Inn is a little pricier—but a good place to grab some regional specialties like fried chicken, calf liver and rainbow trout. For pizza, try Salerno Family Restaurant.

Don’t forget the two local breweries, Blue Lab and Devils Backbone. Blue Lab is actually downtown, so it’s a nice option after lunch and is open from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. If you don’t mind the drive, Devils Backbone, just north of town on North Lee Highway, makes great beer, too.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/may/18/destination-virginia-strolling-the-chessie-nature-trail/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/may/18/destination-virginia-strolling-the-chessie-nature-trail/Mon, 18 May 2015 16:42:01 Appalachian Engine: The Virginia Creeper Trail Keeps Bringing Visitors BackMaureen Hannanhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/may/15/appalachian-engine-the-virginia-creeper-trail-keeps-bringing-visitors-back/This excellent feature originally appeared as the cover story in the Winter 2015 edition of Rails to Trails magazine. One of many perks provided when you become an RTC member, our quarterly magazine includes lots of great stories like this.

It’s a bright August morning, and every seat on the Virginia Creeper Trail shuttle is filled. The van wends its way up Whitetop Mountain, slowing to hug each curve on the old logging road that winds to the summit. We pass weathered log cabins, fields of perfect, cone-shaped Christmas trees and miles of tall oaks. Three teenage girls—maybe 16 or 17—sit in the front seat, chatting like old friends with the driver and swapping memories with each other. They recall the first ride down the mountain. The plunge into a trailside creek after biking right through a hornet’s nest. The double-dip ice cream cones enjoyed at the base of the mountain.

Seated behind them, the girls’ fathers and uncles laugh and tease about the hornet misadventure. And one passenger— a little older than the girls—sits quietly, taking it all in. It’s his last trip as “one of the kids,” I learn. He will enter the military at the end of the summer.

Photo by Tyler Evert/AP Images

For these young adults who come annually for family reunions, Southwest Virginia’s 34-mile Virginia Creeper Trail (VCT) is timeless. It’s a place, they’ve discovered, where cell phones serve no purpose and where horses share the path. A place where the loudest sound you’ll hear for miles is the thud-thud of your bike tires across the planks of towering wooden trestles.

Though it may feel antique to the families who return year after year, the VCT is a fairly recent development—and one that almost didn’t happen. The trail is a beloved regional asset and economic boon that once ignited fierce opposition from neighboring landowners. A relic of the railroad age, it came within a pen stroke of simply vanishing into the forest. The story of the Virginia Creeper Trail is the tale of an idea that gripped two small-town doctors and a local lawmaker—and then simply wouldn’t let go.

Campaign for the Creeper

The rail line that was once the highest elevation passenger service train east of the Rockies made its last run in 1977. The Norfolk & Western Railway’s Abingdon line, dating back to the late 1800s, transported timber from the old-growth forest on Whitetop Mountain to a Damascus, Va., lumber mill. The line became known as “The Virginia Creeper” because of the train’s creeping pace up and down steep mountain grades. In the late 1920s, the local lumber industry shut down. Yet the Creeper chugged along another 50 years, transporting passengers and assorted dry goods—and serving as a vital line of connection in the region.

Sarah Young runs in the morning on the Virginia Creeper Trail in Abingdon, Va. | Photo by Tyler Evert/AP Images

Dr. French Moore Jr., an Abingdon, Va., dentist who chaired Washington County’s planning commission in the late 1970s, remembers the first time he heard the idea of converting the old rail line to a trail. A Washington Post story of a defunct Wisconsin rail line turned into a hiking trail had sparked the imagination of Moore’s planning commission colleague, Dr. Dave Brillhart, an Abingdon physician who shared the story with Moore. The idea took root. “I just couldn’t let it go,” Moore recalls. “I knew we’d only have the opportunity…for a moment in time.”

The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) jumped on the chance to purchase the right-of-way for the 19-mile stretch of rail line running through the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, from Damascus to the North Carolina state line. Meanwhile, in a separate, local effort, Moore and Brillhart began a tireless campaign to develop the full 34-mile trail that would last most of the next decade. The task was daunting: Trail advocates would have to purchase the remaining 15 miles of right-of-way between Damascus and Abingdon, acquire and save 47 trestles that had already been sold to a salvage company, build and make the trail safe for visitors, and figure out matters of local oversight and upkeep.

Allies and Adversaries in Abingdon

The two activists knew they’d need a public advocate for their cause. They found that in their state senator, Rick Boucher, whom they approached early in the campaign for help in negotiating with the railroad. Boucher, who practiced law in Abingdon, donated legal assistance while championing the trail initiative at the state level. Moreover, after being elected to the U.S. Congress in 1982, Boucher proposed a bill, which was enacted, to upgrade the trail right-of-way and secured more than $2 million in federal funds to preserve the Virginia Creeper Trail as a National Recreation Trail.

“I just kept going ... I always believed the trail would be a success—something no one can ever take away from us.”

Despite Boucher’s advocacy and the tenacity of Moore and Brillhart, efforts to create the trail were met with formidable obstacles. The ribbon of land connecting mountain to towns was quickly becoming what Moore describes as an “underground railroad”—a place that attracted vandals and illegal hunters. Despite concerns about such uses, many landowners worried that a trail on the old rail corridor would bring trespassers to their farms. These farmers (some of whom also happened to be Moore’s patients) protested the trail effort, made their own attempts to purchase the land and even filed a lawsuit.

“I just kept going,” Moore says. “I always believed the trail would be a success—something no one can ever take away from us.”

And in 1981, the dream of local ownership of the line became a reality. Armed with $28,000 in grants, Brillhart and Boucher arranged for the towns of Damascus and Abingdon jointly to buy the right-of-way that would become the first 15 miles of the VCT. It took another six years to restore the wooden trestles, an effort that was interrupted in 1985 when one of the 450-foot bridges burned down in a mysterious fire.

Finally, in 1987, the long-awaited 34 miles of converted rail line opened to the public as a shared-use hiking, biking and equine recreational trail.

Managing the trail is a joint effort of the USFS and the municipalities of Abingdon and Damascus. While the USFS trail section is run separately from the section owned by the two towns, the three entities cooperate on trail upkeep—with the Virginia Creeper Trail Club providing plenty of volunteer labor to aid in that job.

Economic Engine, Priceless Asset

Today the sleepy towns of Abingdon and Damascus welcome about 250,000 trail riders a year, more than 25 times their combined populations. The trail is an economic engine for the communities, generating business for bike shuttle services, rental cottages, restaurants and shops. Jerry Camper, co-owner of the Virginia Creeper Trail Bike Shop, has been onboard from the start. In 2002, he and his brother risked their savings to open up their shop with just a handful of rental bikes. Today, with 200 bikes out at a time, they can barely keep up with demand. On a summer day at 9 a.m. opening time, the place is buzzing. When Camper is not loading bikes onto the shuttle for hourly runs up to the mountain, he’s grabbing the phone to take reservations. Word has gotten out about the beautiful, easy coast down the mountain on the Creeper.

Green Cove Station in Damascus is the only original remaining depot building along the Virginia Creeper Trail. | Photo by Tyler Evert/AP Images

“The trail has proven to be a tremendous asset,” Boucher says. The Town of Abingdon couldn’t agree more. According to Tenille Montgomery, former marketing coordinator for the town, studies show that each overnight trail visitor spends more than $700 while staying in the area. And according to the town’s best estimates, trail-related tourism revenues stand at about $25 million a year.

Merchants aren’t the only beneficiaries. Wayne Miller, president of the Virginia Creeper Trail Club, says homeowners have seen jumps in property value, the artisans and musicians of an Abingdon-based folk culture collective are finding new outlets, and farmers enjoy growing demand for their produce. In fact, some of the farmers who once vocally opposed the trail—Moore’s old patients—now leave baskets of free vegetables and flowers for trail users.

And trespassing on private land hasn’t been a problem: The trail’s woods, rolling hills and meadows—and 47 trestles over gorges and rivers—keep riders focused on the adventure in front of them.

Trailpreneur Spotlight:

Virginia Creeper Trail Bike Shop

When Jerry and Gary Camper started the Virginia Creeper Trail Bike Shop 12 years ago just yards from the Abingdon trailhead, their goal was to sell bikes and shuttle riders up Whitetop Mountain. While they were at it, they figured they’d keep a small fleet of rentals on hand. The business was one of the first to target the VCT bike tourism market. The trail was seeing roughly 20,000 out-of-town visitors a year (about one-fifth the current estimate). The brothers knew their best strategy was to start small, learn what their customers wanted and build from there.

Jerry Camper in his bike shop in Abingdon, Va., with patron and friend Mary Ann Moore whose husband French Moore was a creator of the trail. | Photo by Tyler Evert/AP Images

They quickly found that what their customers most wanted was a package deal—a sturdy mountain bike to rent for the day and a ride up to Whitetop Station. The fleet of 10 rental bikes quickly grew to 30, and by 2010, the bike business had become 70 percent rental.

The Camper brothers now have a rental inventory of about 200 bikes and offer that rental/shuttle package. Jerry says he often has to turn away customers who don’t make advance reservations for the summer and fall trail seasons. In 2011, the Campers opened up a second location in Damascus so they could shuttle customers easily from both towns that serve as bookend hubs for the VCT.

After 12 years of serving VCT riders (many of whom come in big family groups), Jerry says it’s the return customers and the widening radius of new business that excite him the most. “I’ve seen kids grow up. I’m seeing my clients age…and I’ve met folks from as far away as South Africa.”

“Creepers Barter”—and Stop for Cake

To serve the needs and interests of the growing number of out-of-town visitors, trail stakeholders studied where VCT visitors go and what they do during their stay. A few findings were obvious: People coming to ride the trail stay at trail-accessible inns and cottages. They patronize the bike rental/shuttle shops and stop at trailside eateries.

But some less obvious findings also emerged, with implications for future outreach efforts. Miller points to the Barter Theatre, Abingdon’s biggest cultural draw. A large percentage of overnight trail visitors buy tickets for the Barter; yet, those who come mainly for the performances rarely visit the trail—demonstrating the way in which the trail serves as a conduit by which people are drawn to, and reach, local civic attractions. “Creepers Barter, but Barters don’t Creep,” Miller chuckles.

Alex Jones, a worker at In The Country, hands Emma Cree, visiting from South Carolina, a scoop of mint chocolate chip. | Photo by Tyler Evert/AP Images

Of course, Creepers do a lot more than “Barter.” They get off the trail to enjoy whatever local color (and food and drink) they can spot from their bike seats. They buy souvenirs at the hundred-year-old Green Cove train station, sample local craft brews at the two trailside microbreweries and taste the wines at Abingdon Vineyard & Winery. The Creeper Trail Café, a packed trailside lunch stop near the base of the mountain, embodies the leisurely spirit of the VCT. Customers chat and greet one another while waiting in line to order a burger and a slice of the owner’s famous chocolate cake. A large world map behind the register, swathed in a rainbow of pushpins, reminds guests that the trail has become a destination for trail enthusiasts from the world over.

Fred Leonard owns the Damascus Old Mill Inn, a 12-room bed and breakfast with a full-service restaurant located just a block from the Damascus trailhead. His hotel guests are a mix of VCT riders and theatergoers, “folks who want a little more upscale experience.” The restaurant guests who come off the trail, he says, want to have a nice dinner or just sit outside with a cold drink. “Here in Damascus,” Leonard explains, “since we’re the gateway to the most popular recreational part of the trail, business is always good. And in September and October, it just explodes.”

It’s All About the Bikes

For Abingdon Economic Development Director Kevin Costello, the biggest challenge in increasing tourism is gathering concrete visitor data, beginning with numbers of trail users. A lot of guesswork is required when counting visitors on a public-access trail. But one critical fact Costello knows for sure is that each year, nearly 100,000 visits begin with a stop at one of the local bike rental shops.

Abingdon’s first priority, according to Costello, is to welcome those out-of-town riders before they hit the trail. A new trailhead visitor’s center, which opened in October, showcases the area’s growing array of businesses. The town is also tackling an ambitious project to make all of Abingdon—from the Barter Theatre to the many specialty shops—bike accessible. The project, called Urban Pathways, will unfold incrementally, developing “bits and pieces” of right-of-way to connect riders to restaurants, shops and inns.

“I’m also trying to reach out to craft bicycle manufacturers about creating a Virginia Creeper Trail bike designed just for our trail,” says Costello. “Why not bring the bike manufacturer here? As much as possible, we want to see the tourism dollars stay local.”

Whether you talk with shop owners, town officials, trail volunteers or innkeepers, you’ll hear a single refrain: “People always come back.” Like the family on the shuttle up to Whitetop, they come back for the breezy, shady ride down the mountain. They come back for the wild beauty of the trail and the antique luster of the towns, just as Moore predicted nearly 40 years ago. The pathways to capturing the full economic potential of the Virginia Creeper Trail are still emerging, but one thing is clear: Each visitor on a bike brings the promise of new vitality to this corner of Appalachia.

And each return visit gives the locals a new reason to treasure the remarkable trail that spans mountain, forest, field, river and lake. The trail that draws entire families back year after year. The trail that very nearly disappeared.

Janet Phillips, president of the Tahoe-Pyramid Bikeway, doesn’t shy away from a challenge. During a full career working in water resources along the Truckee River in California, she noticed a missing component to the corridor along the river: a trail. And when she retired in 2001, Phillips had a little extra time to think about what an incredible asset a trail would be to the surrounding area.

So instead of wishing for one to appear, she took action.

Patching together vague concepts and scribbled plans from visionaries that came before her, Phillips spent a full year evaluating route opportunities and conceptualizing what the final product would look like. After extensive research and site visits, she introduced her grand concept at a public meeting in the fall of 2003, and the vision was devoured by the audience. The possibility of the trail system was incredibly captivating, and folks were eager for Phillips’ vision to be turned into reality. Volunteers raised their hands, checkbooks opened, and she knew that project had significant momentum behind it.

Today, the 116-mile trail connecting Tahoe and Pyramid lakes, the vision that Phillips dreamed up over a decade ago, is 75 percent complete. The trail will descend more than 2,000 feet from Lake Tahoe, the source of the Truckee River, nestled into the eastern flank of the Sierra Nevada range, to Pyramid Lake, the high-desert, geographic sink of the Truckee River Basin.

Nearly every type of organization and agency has had a voice in the trail-building discussion, and the coordination and collaboration of the Tahoe Pyramid Bikeway is a huge feat, especially for a project being run by a single individual. But if anyone can handle it, it’s Phillips.

“I had worked with many of these people over the course of my career ... So it was easy to establish a relationship for the trail-building work.”

There are two things that Phillips attributes to her effectiveness in the trail building process, both early on, and today. The first: her existing work relationships with many professionals along the corridor. “I had worked with many of these people over the course of my career,” Phillips states. “So it was easy to establish a relationship for the trail-building work.”

The second? Tenacity. “This whole thing takes a lot of persistence,” she says. Phillips has never let a roadblock in the process turn into a dead end. The trail must move forward, and she’ll find a way to make that happen.

Volunteers are credited with helping to make the development of the Tahoe-Pyramid Bikeway possible. | Photo by Janet Phillips

With Phillips at the helm, the all-volunteer, nonprofit organization Tahoe-Pyramid Bikeway continues to charge ahead. But as all trail developers know…to make things happen on the ground, there is a considerable amount of planning, engineering and consulting that needs to happen before hand. So who lends a hand?

According to Phillips, she has reached out to dozens of professionals in the area to ask for help, and luckily, she’s convincing! She acknowledges the hard work many qualified and passionate professionals who have pitched in and donated their skills—pro bono. “When I’m working full time for nothing, it makes it easier to approach other professionals and ask them to donate their time and expertise,” notes Phillips.

With an army of volunteers, a substantial amount of collaboration and more grit than can be imagined, a vision is becoming an award-winning trail that connects communities and provides amazing opportunities for area residents and visitors alike. The trail movement is incredibly fortunate to have determined trail builders like Janet Phillips, and who knows! Maybe a youngster riding on the Tahoe Pyramid Bikeway today will become the next tenacious trail builder of tomorrow.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/may/14/meet-janet-phillips-tenacious-leader-of-the-tahoe-pyramid-bikeway/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/may/14/meet-janet-phillips-tenacious-leader-of-the-tahoe-pyramid-bikeway/Thu, 14 May 2015 19:26:54 Nebraska's MoPac Trail East and WestLaura Starkhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/may/12/nebraskas-mopac-trail-east-and-west/Trail of the Month: May 2015

“I think you’d be pleasantly surprised if you came here and experienced the trail opportunities that Lincoln offers.”

If you had to name a city with a longstanding and thriving trail culture, Lincoln, Nebraska, may not come to mind, but perhaps it should. The city currently boasts 131 miles of multi-use trail; to help put that in perspective, Portland and Minneapolis, two cities long touted as bicycle friendly, have 152 miles and 92 miles of off-road trail, respectively. One of the cornerstones of Lincoln’s network, the MoPac Trail (consisting of the seamlessly connected West and East segments) begins at the University of Nebraska campus in the heart of the city and stretches eastward 27 miles, just shy of Omaha’s doorstep.

“I think you’d be pleasantly surprised if you came here and experienced the trail opportunities that Lincoln offers,” says Dan Schultz, resources coordinator for the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District, which manages the MoPac Trail East.

Exciting change is literally afoot in the Cornhusker State. Omaha currently ranks among the top 50 of America’s Best Bike Cities, and less than a dozen miles separate its trail system from Lincoln’s. The MoPac Trail, which will join them, is also a key piece of a bigger puzzle, the developing Quad State Trail, a regional network which will span more than 700 miles in four Midwestern states: Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa and Missouri. The momentum to close that gap between the state’s two largest cities and tie in to the larger system is built upon efforts that go back decades.

In 1989, the citizens of Lincoln voted 3-to-1 in favor of a bond issue to support the city’s burgeoning trail system. As an editorial in the Lincoln Journal put it, the result “reaffirms the responsible desire of Capital City residents; they want to maintain theirs as an unusually progressive and attractive community, being willing to pay for it.” Keep in mind that this was not too long after Rails-to-Trails Conservancy opened its doors in 1986 at the cusp of the rail-trail movement.

“It started the whole trail system in Lincoln,” says Great Plains Trails Network (GPTN) Founder Elaine Hammer of the bond initiative. GPTN, an all-volunteer organization, has since raised approximately $3.75 million over 25 years for local trail projects, including the MoPac.

In fact, Hammer and a handful of others believed in the trail’s potential so strongly that they mortgaged their own homes to help purchase the abandoned Missouri Pacific Railroad (MoPac) corridor when it came up for sale. Trail advocates had been burned a few years earlier when they were outbid by opponents in an attempt to purchase a portion of another nearby rail corridor, the Rock Island Railroad, and were determined not to lose another opportunity.

Today, the MoPac Trail offers that perfect mix of urban connection and rural escape. Through Lincoln, the trail is paved. It then becomes finely crushed limestone as it leads travelers out of the city and through picturesque countryside, native tallgrass prairie dotted with wildflowers, and lush woodlands. Schultz describes it as a “linear habitat” with turkeys, deer, rabbits, songbirds and other wildlife commonly sighted.

“That aroma follows you,” says nature lover Kathy Newberg of the fragrant wild plum thickets that bloom along the trail in late spring. Newberg, chair of the Nebraska Horse Council’s Trails Committee, has made jelly out of the fruit and says that mulberries also provide a sweet trailside snack. Large cottonwoods, oak trees and sumac, the latter of which turn bright red in the fall, add to the trail’s allure.

The passionate support of Newberg’s group keeps the equestrian trail that parallels the MoPac in tiptop condition. The grassy horse trail begins at the trailhead at 98th and A streets just outside of Lincoln and follows the rail-trail for almost its entire distance. A few times a year, you’ll see volunteers out there with clippers, handsaws and an assortment of other tools to keep overgrowth at bay.

“I like to turn around and look back to see what we’ve just cleared and how good it looks for riding,” says Newberg, who rides horses on the trail two to three times a week.

Although the MoPac sees a diversity of users, conflicts are kept to a minimum. The Trails Committee works hard to educate the public about how bicyclists, pedestrians and equestrians can best share the trail. Newberg advises, “If you see us coming, talk to us. If horses see something coming, they get kind of spooked, but if it’s a person, they know it’s okay. A simple ‘hello’ relaxes the horse instantly.”

Lied Bridge | Photo courtesy Market to Market Relay

Like a carrot on a stick, the beautiful Lied Bridge is a tantalizing attraction that awaits the next step of the MoPac project. The pedestrian bridge stretches 1,714 feet across the broad swath of the Platte River, which divides Lincoln and Omaha. A remnant of the Rock Island Line, the bridge is a reminder that if the rest of that corridor had been saved, a rail-trail connection between the two cities—from the trail’s current terminus at the small community of Wabash to the river—would have been possible. Without it, trail advocates are looking at more challenging alternatives.

“We’re working with the state highway department to build the trail adjacent to some roads to complete it,” says Ross Greathouse, vice president of the Nebraska Trails Foundation. “We’re in the process of doing that, but it may take four to five years.”

Greathouse says it was “a giant move forward” when the bridge opened in 2002. He adds, “When it was completed, 700 people showed up. I’ve never seen anything like it. We had bands playing and everything.”

Mopac Trail East just south of Springfield | Photo courtesy Market to Market Relay

The fanfare of that trail bridge opening inspired Ben Cohoon to begin the Market to Market Relay, a running event that spans 78 miles along trails and roads between the two cities, which has sold out every year since its inception in 2008. Now the nation’s largest daylong relay with more than 4,000 registered runners, the event generates an estimated annual economic impact of nearly a half-million dollars from spending at local restaurants, lodging and retail outlets, and continues to build awareness and momentum for completing the trail system.

“I enjoyed exploring the city while I was running,” says Cohoon. “And I liked seeing new places. When I learned about the Lied Bridge, I thought, ‘There’s your concept: running from Omaha to Lincoln.’”

Another beloved event utilizing the MoPac is the Tuesday Night Nacho Ride, which takes place weekly from May through October. What began with just a handful of people a few years ago now averages about a hundred participants a night, with riders traveling from Lincoln to the One Eyed Dog Saloon in the old railroad town of Eagle.

“The restaurant and bar owners appreciate the trail and the business that it brings,” says Cohoon. “They really benefit from that.”

Greathouse points out that the events build connections between people, too. “The people that run in those relay teams, they really bond. They don’t know each other at the start, but they sure do at the finish.”

Photo by Matt Olson

The Nacho Ride is something that local resident Matt Olson is looking forward to tackling this year with his 13-year-old daughter. “It’s a 20-mile round-trip so it’s been a stretch for Lyndsay, but I’m hoping we can do it this year!” says Olson.

For Greathouse, too, the incentive to develop and support these trails is a personal one. “I biked across Nebraska with my son when he was a teenager, and those are the fondest memories I have in my life."

On or about May 7, 2015, CSX Transportation, Inc. filed for the abandonment of 0.48 mile of track within Niagara Falls in Niagara County, New York. We are providing this information because it presents an opportunity to develop a real regional asset: a multi-use trail that can accommodate hikers, bikers, equestrians and other appropriate uses.

NEXT STEPS: If this corridor is suitable for trail use, we strongly urge local trail advocates, or an appropriate local, regional or state agency or organization, to take action now. A “boiler plate” letter (found here) can be filed with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) and the abandoning railroad using STB docket number AB-55 (sub-no. 740x). Filing this letter does not commit its authors to acquire the corridor; it merely gives time to develop a rail-trail proposal and undertake negotiations with the railroad. According to the information we have received, the deadline for filing this letter is June 6, 2015. Even if this deadline is missed, there is probably still time to contact the relevant parties, since the railroad may have experienced a delay in filing all of the paperwork, or the STB may still have jurisdiction over the corridor. However, it is important to take prompt action. The STB posts all abandonment decisions and filings on its website, including the complete filing for this corridor. More information on the rail corridor, including a map, can be found in this filing, or view a clearer map of the approximate route here.

The STB has imposed a $300 filing fee for all railbanking requests. Entities filing a railbanking request may request a fee waiver or reduction, and government agencies will receive an automatic fee waiver. Throughout the process, make sure local government officials and citizen activists are kept informed of the project’s progress. We also recommend contacting your state trails coordinator or your state bicycle/pedestrian coordinator.

Both of these individuals are knowledgeable about state laws and resources and may be able to assist your community with this rail-trail project. Also, you may want to contact the abandoning railroad to add your name to their service list.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE: RTC’s website may provide valuable tools as you plan for a rail-trail, including how-to manuals, the Trail-Building Toolbox, our Resource Library and the Trails & Greenways Listserv for trail advocates and professionals. These resources can be found within the “Build Trails” section of our website. If you take advantage of this information and other resources promptly, you will be well on your way to creating a successful rail-trail in your community. For more information, or if you decide to pursue railbanking, please contact our Trail Development Department.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/may/12/notice-upcoming-railroad-abandonment-in-niagara-county-ny/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/may/12/notice-upcoming-railroad-abandonment-in-niagara-county-ny/Tue, 12 May 2015 15:31:38 What’s Next for Michigan’s Trails?Leeann Sinpatanasakulhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/may/12/what-s-next-for-michigan-s-trails/On May 5, 2015, voters in Michigan made their voices clear: Although many believe that roads and other transportation infrastructure are in poor condition, the complicated Proposal 1, which would have increased both the fuel tax and sales tax to fund maintenance and improvements, while maintaining funding for schools and essential municipal services, was not the answer.

Polls suggest that voters are not happy with the state legislature’s attempt to pass off the critical decision about how to fix this problem. They want the state legislature to return to work and find a way to provide the additional funding needed.

In a new poll conducted by prominent polling firm EPIC-MRA, an incredible 87 percent of survey respondents said that they want the legislature to immediately begin working on an alternative road funding plan, and 85 percent said the governor should call a special legislative session to convene the work.

Michiganders not only want funding to fix crumbling roads, they also want to continue to fund public transportation, improve rail service and invest in biking and hiking trails. In short, Michiganders want a better, balanced transportation system that includes trails and places to safely walk and bike.

There could be many different reasons why Michigan voters did not think that Proposal 1 was the best solution—but they do want investment in Michigan’s transportation system. Michigan’s leaders should not use the results on May 5 as an excuse to sit back and do nothing.

As Michigan’s infrastructure continues to crumble, finding a solution to fully fund the system will be no easy task. In the weeks and months to come, RTC will continue to follow this issue and ensure that trails, walking and biking remain an essential part of any solution to Michigan’s transportation woes.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/may/12/what-s-next-for-michigan-s-trails/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/may/12/what-s-next-for-michigan-s-trails/Tue, 12 May 2015 11:28:25 Seven Things That Can Go Wrong on a Bike—And How to Fix ‘Em!Katie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/may/11/seven-things-that-can-go-wrong-on-a-bike-and-how-to-fix-em/RTC is pleased to present this special "How-To" in honor of Bike Month!

We’ve all had those days where things just didn’t go as planned. Your water heater failed mid-shower, your roommate drank the last of your milk, and you can’t find a pair of socks that match. And that was before you even left the house.

Unfortunately, these unlucky instances can strike when you’re on your bike, too. But while some things are simply up to fate to resolve, others are under our control! Here are (unlucky number) seven things that can go wrong on a bike ride—and some ways to cope with them.

1Getting a Flat Tire

Yeah, we know. They suck. But they’re a rite of passage, and you shouldn’t let the risk of getting a flat keep you from getting on your bike.

Preventable? To some extent, yes! Be sure to pump up your tires to the proper level of inflation (check the sidewall of your tire for reference), and consider investing in puncture-resistant tires.

And if it happens? Your best weapons against a flat tire are a patch kit, tire levers and a hand pump. If you want to learn how to fix a flat, YouTube is a great option, or take a class through a local shop or bike advocacy group.

2Running Out of “Gas”

You’re on a long ride, cruising along…on top of the world. Then suddenly, you hit a wall. Bad news; you “bonked.” This is the term that athletes use for a blood sugar crash, and they can hit—HARD.

Preventable? Yes! Carry food with you on your trail adventure, especially if you know you’ll be out there for a long day.

And if it happens? Take a break, eat a snack, drink some water, and don’t be too hard on yourself. Don’t worry; you’ll be back in good form in a few minutes.

Photo by Dave Crosby

3Getting Lost

“Trust me, I know where we’re going! I just don’t know where we ARE…”

Preventable? Yes! Use RTC’s trail-finder resource TrailLink.com for detailed routes, maps and descriptions of trails across the country. Stay on the trail if you’re unsure of where you are, take note of major intersections or turn-offs, and reference your map frequently if you’re unfamiliar with the area.

And if it happens? Don’t panic. Assess how off course you are, and discuss with your fellow riders the best option for getting back on it. Sometimes, it means back-tracking. Other times, the best option is simply staying put. Reference your map, use your common sense, and get back on course. Don’t hesitate to chat with folks on the trail, either! Sometimes the best antidote to getting lost is a friendly local who knows where they’re headed.

4Having Your Bike Stolen

Anyone who has fallen victim to a bike snatching can verify: A little piece of your heart is lost when your favorite two-wheeled ride disappears.

And if it happens? Take a deep breath. (Note: You’re absolutely allowed to shed a tear or two.) Report the theft to the police. Don’t under estimate help from social media, and keep your eyes peeled.

5Losing Daylight

You can have too much of a good thing, and a great ride can turn south pretty fast if the sun sets before you’re finished.

Preventable? Usually, yes. Be sure to keep your eye on the time, and if your voyage is an out-and-back, note how long the “out” portion takes. Leave enough time for minor setbacks, and remember that you might be more tired (and therefore, slower) on the way back.

And if it happens? I hope you brought your bike lights! Throw on an extra layer, put your head down, and continue on home.

Photo by Jana Kriz (beyondhue)

6Getting Stuck in the Rain

Mother Nature doesn’t have to check with our ride schedules before she does her thing.

Preventable? Not 100 percent of the time. Well, you could stay squirreled away in your house forever, but where’s the fun in that?

And if it happens? Lucky for you, we’ve compiled a handy how-to guide for you! The main takeaways include wearing proper waterproof gear, slowing your speed and readjusting your attitude.

7Not Knowing Where to Ride

Spring is here, your bike is tuned up, and you’re ready to hit the trail! But where do you go?

And if it happens? It won’t! With TrailLink’s apps for iPhone and Android, you can access the trail database wherever you can use your mobile device. How cool is that?

Whether it’s a flat tire or a rain storm, don’t let the threat of misfortune keep you from riding. See you on the trail!

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/may/11/seven-things-that-can-go-wrong-on-a-bike-and-how-to-fix-em/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/may/11/seven-things-that-can-go-wrong-on-a-bike-and-how-to-fix-em/Mon, 11 May 2015 17:53:39 Trail Traveler for the Everyday AdventurerLaura Starkhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/may/11/trail-traveler-for-the-everyday-adventurer/I watched my 5-year-old climbing the hillside with a mixture of pride, amusement and, most of all, profound happiness. Her blond hair glowed like sunlight between the patchy shadows beneath the treetops as she bounded up the slope with the kind of energy that only children have. We were in a city park not far from home, with the sounds of traffic and human chatter close at hand, when it hit me that it was time to take her on a big adventure—somewhere more remote and challenging, with exciting new possibilities around every corner. She turned her head, flashing me a smile over her shoulder, and I thought: She’s ready.

But where to go? It’s the eternal summer question. For the everyday adventurer with a passion for the outdoors but no particular skills—like my daughter—we have an answer. Actually, 10 answers. RTC recently launched Trail Traveler, a new digital magazine for tablet computers that is chock full of details for planning trips on 10 premier rail-trails across the country.

In this inaugural issue, RTC shares our favorite spots for an outdoor weekend getaway, including not just the trails themselves, but also recommendations for all the things a traveler needs at every part of their journey: lodging, restaurants, bike rentals and fun attractions along the way. Links throughout each article help you nail down all the details within moments, and the magazine’s maps help you find the locations once you arrive.

If you’re not taking along young ones, each article also includes suggestions for other outstanding trails or parks nearby to extend your trip, so you can customize your itinerary to fit your needs and desires.

Below you’ll find the table of contents for the first issue of Trail Traveler, as well as several of the magazine’s photos to intrigue you, like the first lick of summer ice cream. Enjoy!

A view of Lake Mead from the Historic Railroad Tunnel Trail in Nevada | Photo by Eric Arnold Photography

1Wild West Adventure

Bike through a spectacular river canyon, alpine forests and old railroad tunnels on northern California’s scenic Bizz Johnson Trail.

2Outdoor Jackpot in Vegas’ Backyard

Desert vistas, crystal blue Lake Mead and stunning views of the Hoover Dam make the Historic Railroad Tunnel Trail, just 30 miles from Sin City, a sure bet.

3Pocono Mountains Adventure

Waterfalls, mountain views and the charming town of Jim Thorpe await you on Pennsylvania’s D&L Trail.

The romantic beauty and unique sites of the Virginia Creeper Trail make it a perfect getaway. | Photo by Cindy Elswick McCrary

4Perfect Couples Getaway

Beautiful woodlands, charming B&Bs and nearby wineries make the Virginia Creeper Trail the ideal setting for a romantic escape.

5Relaxing Escape from the Big Apple

Just 90 miles north of New York City, the Wallkill Valley Rail-Trail offers bucolic landscapes, emerald-green tree canopies and a stunning century-old trestle.

6Pathway to the Past

If you’ve never been on a rail-trail, Wisconsin’s Elroy-Sparta Trail is a not-to-miss experience with three dramatic tunnels, more than two dozen trestles, and a charming depot and railway museum.

7Journey to Lake Michigan’s Sparkling Shore

A covered bridge, leafy forests and friendly small towns make the trip along the Kal-Haven Trail just as fun as its final destination, the popular beach resort town of South Haven.

8Florida Gone Wild

Alligators, turtles, snakes, oh my! The Withlacoochee State Trail is wild Florida at its best, with a trip through a wildlife preserve and lush tree canopies all along the Withlacoochee River, a kayaking favorite.

9Louisiana’s Green Getaway

Just north of The Big Easy, the Tammany Trace is easy to love with its swampy bayous, groves of moss-draped oaks and folksy downtowns.

10A Travel in Time

Explore the rich culture and history of East Alabama on the Chief Ladiga Trail.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/may/11/trail-traveler-for-the-everyday-adventurer/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/may/11/trail-traveler-for-the-everyday-adventurer/Mon, 11 May 2015 13:52:26 A Huge Opportunity in Miami: Rail-with-Trail Is the TicketKen Bryanhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/may/05/a-huge-opportunity-in-miami-rail-with-trail-is-the-ticket/There are big things happening in the Sunshine State!

All Aboard Florida (AAF) is a statewide, high-speed rail project that could transform Florida’s transportation system for the better…and a key element of its future potential is the inclusion of a pathway for walking and biking.

Pathways near active rail lines are great ways to help connect our communities. Trails alongside the All Aboard Florida rail project would not only be compatible with the planned route, but would provide for the multi-modal transportation needs of thousands of residents—making this project even more successful.

In Miami, All Aboard Florida has a huge opportunity, and it’s sitting right there in the corridor. Psst…it’s a rail-with-trail. Let’s take a look…

The Need

There is an immense need for a safe and convenient connection servicing this part of Miami-Dade County. It is a region greatly underserved by trails, and there are very few options along the corridor for safe, non-motorized travel. The current infrastructure all but ignores the true needs of the community.

So, how could this corridor be transformed?

The Vision

The Flagler Trail is a proposed segment of the All Aboard Florida rail-with-trail concept. One important six-mile segment, named the Little River Trail, will connect the Village of El Portal to downtown Miami. It will also include a western leg along the Florida East Coast Railway’s Little River Line that runs through Little Haiti.

What would this trail mean to the region? It would offer a non-motorized option for folks to safely travel between the communities around Miami and would connect to the city itself. Local developer Avra Jain understands the importance of those connections; that’s why she’s one of the biggest proponents of the Little River Trail. “Rail-with-trail will provide alternative, safe transportation options to a city in much need of improved transit,” she says, explaining that the Little River Trail will be a prime example of what is possible and the benefits that can be gained from rail-with-trail along the entire All Aboard Florida project.

If you think that there are more benefits, you’re right. We’re just getting started...

The Impact

The Little River Trail will enhance local neighborhoods by bringing more eyes to the corridor and providing economic opportunities and ways to connect with neighbors and fellow community members.

Over time, the rail-with-trail will attract additional investment and improvements, helping to transform the area. The trail system will also boost the economic wellbeing of nearby communities. We’ve seen time and again that trails positively impact the property values of adjacent properties, and there is little doubt that this would be the case in Miami as well.

Avra Jain is in support of rail-with-trail, and the overall vision to connect neighborhoods, communities and cities, and she’s not alone. Other developers who envision a healthy, vibrant Miami of tomorrow know that rail-with-trail is a vital element to that future.

The Little River Trail has the potential to create healthier neighborhoods by encouraging active transportation. The trail has the potential to enliven the corridor, making it a safer and more desirable place for residents and visitors. It has the potential to enhance the economic well-being of the community adjacent to the corridor. In a million different ways, a rail-with-trail along the All Aboard Florida project just makes sense.

One thing is clear: We don’t want to be looking back in 10 years, asking ourselves, “What if we had invested in a rail-with-trail? What could our community have looked like?” We want to be saying, “Wow. What an incredible investment that was. It’s really paying off.”

Centered in Morgantown (home to West Virginia University), the sojourn demonstrated how completing key gaps between the burgeoning Mon River Trails system and other rail-trails in West Virginia and Pennsylvania could result in 180 miles of trail that unite with another famous trail system, the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP), creating an unparalleled three-state network (Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia)!

Looking for a rail-trail experience of a lifetime? Join RTC this June 21-26 for our Pennsylvania Rail-Trail Sojourn on the Great Allegheny Passage and Montour Trail.

Day 2: Getting to the Point

Crossing the famous Mason-Dixon Line, we headed on to the planned Sheepskin Trail to Point Marion, and wow, what an appropriate name for the trail. There were lots of those!

Photo by Kasia Martin

We got to be part of a trailhead opening—complete with a “first flush” in the new restroom facilities—recognizing Point Marion as an official “Trail Town” along the Sheepskin Trail. (The Sheepskin will eventually connect to Uniontown and Dunbar, and then link with the GAP!)

Photo by Kasia MartinPhoto by Kasia Martin

And we had some great pie, too! (Thanks to the Point Marion Borough Council!)

...and offered perhaps the most unique edible treat of the trip in the form of these “water tower” cookies.

Photo by Kasia Martin

Trail networks can have an amazing impact on communities—supporting trailside businesses, encouraging healthy lifestyles and creating safe walking and biking routes for commuters and families. All told, the 2015 West Virginia Rail-Trail Sojourn's positive economic impact to the Morgantown area was $38,176. Combine that with the incredible experiences had by the participants, partners, volunteers and local communities—it’s safe to say it was a truly impactful ride.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/may/04/100-riders-3-days-7-trails-and-sheep-rtcs-2015-west-virginia-sojourn/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/may/04/100-riders-3-days-7-trails-and-sheep-rtcs-2015-west-virginia-sojourn/Mon, 04 May 2015 12:54:50 Bike Month: It’s for EVERYONE.Katie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/april/27/bike-month-it-s-for-everyone/Did you know that May is Bike Month? You better believe it! And regardless of your level of expertise on a bicycle, Bike Month still has something for everyone.

Here are some suggestions for how to celebrate! Where do you fit?

1First-Timer

Photo by Dylan Passmore

You’ve never ridden a bike before. Maybe you’re a kid, ready to get those wheels turnin’! Why not start during Bike Month? Or maybe you’re an adult and haven’t yet had the opportunity to learn how to ride. Check in with your local bicycle advocacy organization to see what options and resources are available in your community. In many U.S. cities, Learn-to-Ride programs are helping hundreds of First-Timers (just like you!) get rolling every year. There is no better time than the present!

2Old Pro

You’ve been in the saddle for decades and own bikes older than your kids. You have the expertise and the experience, and now you have the chance to pass on that know-how to others! With humility and understanding, use this Bike Month to respectfully share some of that experience, you Old Pro. Consider reaching out to a neighbor and offering to tune up his or her bike, or take your niece on her first trail ride. Remember, someone taught you the ropes of the bike world long ago. It’s time to pay it forward.

Photo by Steve Remesch

3Enthusiastic-but-Concerned

Weekend rides define your on-bike excursions. It’s the only time that you can escape to an area where speeds are slower and the infrastructure suits your needs. You wish that you had better bike infrastructure closer to home so that you could integrate biking into your everyday life. But the way things are designed currently, you don’t feel comfortable, right? I’ve got the perfect Bike Month challenge for you, Enthusiastic-but-Concerned, and you’re going to be great at it. May is your month to become an advocate! Find a local trail group, and find ways to help them with their trail development efforts. Or, contact your local decision-makers and tell them that the current infrastructure doesn’t cut it.

4Spandex Demigod

You’re most comfortable when you’re tucked into the peloton and shrouded in lycra. You’ve ridden with clipless pedals for years, and it’s easier to remember your most effective cadence than your email password. Your challenge this Bike Month is to use your bike for “inconsequential” everyday jaunts (we mean less than 100 miles, FYI), like a trip to the dentist or to check out that new taco stand in your neighborhood. No average speed to maintain. No special shoes. No jargon. Just take a few rides to get where you need to go, and become a divine being of active transportation this May.

West Virginia Rail-Trail Sojourn, April 2015 | Photo courtesy RTC

5Urban Adrenaline Seeker

High-speed traffic and a lack of bike infrastructure don’t seem to be a problem for you. You’re fast, fearless and, okay, secretly the envy of many bystanders who watch you expertly weave around busy streetscapes. You have one of the most important jobs this May, Urban Adrenaline Seeker: Become a trend-setter for bike courtesy on the streets. Slow your speed a bit, be extra conscientious of bike-traffic laws, and keep your eye out for more vulnerable users. Bring compassion into your daily ride during Bike Month, and show everyone that rad bike skills and respectful riding are compatible! People will envy you—and hopefully copy you as well!

6Comeback Kid

Yeah, you rode a bike when you were in college. Didn’t everyone? But that was a while ago, and biking hasn’t even been on your radar for a few years. There may be a bike or two shoved in the back of the garage, behind the holiday lights and the old dollhouse, but you can’t really remember who they belonged to or how rusty the chains are. Let Bike Month be your impetus: Follow our quick tune-up suggestions, and rediscover riding. (Warning: Once you remember the bliss that accompanies a bike ride, you might not ever stop!)

Now, tell us…. What type of biker are you, and how will you be celebrating Bike Month this year?

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/april/27/bike-month-it-s-for-everyone/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/april/27/bike-month-it-s-for-everyone/Mon, 27 April 2015 16:59:49 “They Think We’re Nuts”: Being in Their 80s Won’t Stop This Biking DuoKatie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/april/27/they-think-we-re-nuts-being-in-their-80s-won-t-stop-this-biking-duo/Remember Jack and Jeannette Ralston, the amazing couple who recently achieved a 70-years-plus dream of riding their bikes in every state (their story was originally featured in a 2013 issue of Rails to Trails)?

We checked in with our octogenarian power couple to see what they were up to this spring. (For those of you who don’t know, octogenarian means a person who is in their 80s!). And to no one’s surprise, their pedaling ways are still going strong!

The Ralstons just took a trip on the Tweetsie Trail, a recently completed and stunningly beautiful rail-trail outside of Johnson City, Tennessee. Despite being familiar with the corridor—the Ralstons have many bike excursions on the books for that part of the state, having moved to that region in 1952—this was their first trip on the Tweetsie. “For years, we hiked on the old railroad bed before the trail was built,” explains Jack.

But it’s not just their home region that the Ralstons have explored by bike. Their goal of riding in each of the fifty 50 states has taken them across the country, to trails they never would had ridden otherwise, and has made trails and biking central features in their lives.

“We believe in keeping the mind and body active,” explains Jack, adding that biking has helped keep them sharp and healthy. Jeannette agrees. “I don’t know if we would still be here if it wasn’t for biking!” she exclaims.

“We have a bunch of friends who think we’re nuts—who think we’re too old to be doing the bike rides that we’re doing,” says Jeanette. “But we love it, so why would we stop?”

We sure hope that we’re as vibrant and active as the Ralstons when we’re that age! Thanks so much for being great ambassadors of rail-trails across the country, Jack and Jeannette, and here’s to many more excursions in the coming years!

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/april/27/they-think-we-re-nuts-being-in-their-80s-won-t-stop-this-biking-duo/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/april/27/they-think-we-re-nuts-being-in-their-80s-won-t-stop-this-biking-duo/Mon, 27 April 2015 16:02:07 Rail-Trail Provides Economic Engine in the Granite StateCarl Knochhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/april/22/rail-trail-provides-economic-engine-in-the-granite-state/From the Massachusetts state line to Lebanon, rail-trail development is booming in New Hampshire. The Granite State Rail Trail, when complete, will run 115 miles from the Connecticut River to Methuen. Currently, 62 miles of the trail have been completed, with construction projects in Londonderry and planning underway for the Merrimack River Greenway in Concord. In southern New Hampshire, the approximately eight miles of the combined Derry Rail Trail and Windham Rail Trail represent the longest paved section of the Granite State Rail Trail—and the longest section of paved abandoned rail corridor in New Hampshire!

The relationship between trails and economic development has long been acknowledged by communities across the United States. Fredrick Law Olmsted, the renowned landscape architect, conducted the first economic impact analysis of urban parks on Central Park, finding a strong positive relationship between this new amenity and property values. And over the past several decades, RTC has uncovered evidence of the direct economic impact that rail-trails have had on many communities—some in the tens of millions of dollars annually.

The Derry-Windham Rail Trail has been used as a multi-use pathway since the 1980s, and efforts to begin paving the trail began in the mid-2000s. Now, trail tourism is on the rise as new businesses, which cater to walkers and bikers of all ages, experience a surge of business.

Recognizing the benefits that the trail provides for its adjacent communities, the Derry Rail Trail Alliance worked with the Greater Derry Londonderry Chamber of Commerce to get the rail-trail and other local trails in Derry, Londonderry and Windham featured in the chamber’s 2015 Visitors Guide. (The guide will be placed in rest stops along Interstate 93, as well as hotels and restaurants around the region, to help promote local businesses and bring more people to the trail.)

To learn how the trails have stimulated the development of new business, check out the cover story (p. 10). The Grind Rail Trail Café, a community-focused, bicycle-themed specialty coffee bar in historic downtown Derry, opened in 2014 as a result of two trail users who couldn’t find a suitable coffee shop after their trail ride! The Windham Junction Country Gift Shop and Kitchen has also benefited from the rail-trail. Although not visible from the trail, word of mouth has sent trail users seeking some treats and respite from their journey to the shop.

An additional quarter-mile of trail will be paved in Windham, which will connect to the in-progress trail in Salem, and Londonderry is working on completing an additional section of trail to add to the mile that was completed in 2014.

Business will just keep getting better for The Grind, Windham Junction Country Gift Shop and Kitchen, and other local shops and restaurants as the nearby trails continue to expand.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/april/22/rail-trail-provides-economic-engine-in-the-granite-state/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/april/22/rail-trail-provides-economic-engine-in-the-granite-state/Wed, 22 April 2015 16:32:41 History Happened Here: The Minuteman Bikeway (A Revolution on Two Wheels)Paul Bloomfieldhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/april/22/history-happened-here-the-minuteman-bikeway-a-revolution-on-two-wheels/Special thanks to The Independent for allowing us to republish this great travel article by Paul Bloomfield, first published on Monday, April 20, 2015, and originally titled "Cycling in America: A Revolution on Two Wheels." Also, a shout out to RTC member Dr. Jeff Roth who assisted with the article.

A patriot's journey from Boston to Lexington 240 years ago marked the start of a rebellion. Paul Bloomfield followed his route.

Names can be deceptive. I was perched on the saddle of my [rental] bike on the first stretch of the Minuteman Bikeway in northern Cambridge. Urban Boston lay behind me; a smooth sweep of asphalt curved away into rural Massachusetts, past clapboard houses, mills, ponds and meadows. And alongside me was a monolithic gatepost marking the start of the trail, bearing the traditional name of this spot: Alewife.

View from the Minuteman Bikeway | Photo by Paul Bloomfield

Given Boston's rich colonial heritage, I'd high hopes of a captivating historic back story. The tale would, naturally, star a buxom tavern-keeper's partner, sloshing foam-topped flagons while clouting a couple of oppressive redcoats. But no. Etched into the slabs were clues to the real source of the name: fish.

"The name was originally pronounced 'all-wuff', I believe," confirmed my guide, Dr. Jeff Roth, sheepishly. "It's a little herring common in nearby brooks."

But if the starting line's etymology was drab, the journey didn't follow suit. The Minuteman Bikeway is billed as "America's Revolutionary Rail-Trail": an 11-mile Tarmac ribbon that follows, roughly speaking, the route taken from Boston to Lexington by Paul Revere on his night ride of 18 April 1775—240 years ago—to alert the rebel militia of the imminent arrival of British redcoats. The results were the first battles of the American Revolution on Lexington Green and, later, at Concord's Old North Bridge—site of the so-called "shot heard around the world."

Though nostalgically named after the best-trained colonial militia, the Minuteman Bikeway is not some glammed-up jaunt linking historic sites, but a busy commuter route. Even so, on the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Sons of Liberty—the band of feisty colonials whose anti-tax rebellion in 1765 kick-started the American independence movement—it seemed an apt activity during a short break in Boston.

The bikeway's genesis was revolutionary in another respect. Pioneering local activists battled for 17 years to transform a disused railway into today's cycle trail, opened in 1992. In fact, the Minuteman project was the vanguard of what's now a pan-U.S. movement, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy that provides advocacy and advice to communities working to convert mothballed lines.

Jeff is one such community representative, working in tandem with Rails-to-Trails to develop bikeways. By day, though, he's a scientist at an MIT lab near Lexington, and he'd kindly volunteered to point out the trail's highlights on his commute.

They came thick and fast before we even reached Alewife. Jeff and I pedalled from my downtown Boston hotel—the Revere, appropriately enough—at 7:30 a.m. to sidestep the heaviest rush-hour logjams. We escaped the traffic through the Public Garden, sharing the paths with walkers and in-line skaters, on to the busy cycle track along the Charles River Esplanade.

Harvard hoved into view on the opposite bank, the shouts of coxes echoing across the Charles as college rowing crews glided past. Over Anderson Bridge and through Harvard Square we rode, the red-brick, round-bay-fronted townhouses of Boston yielding to the clapboard-clad New England abodes of Cambridge.

By 9 a.m. we reached Alewife "T" Station, where those twin fish-etched stones announced the Minuteman. The first stretch is flanked by the backyards of suburban houses, but before long it opened up to reveal the tree-fringed waters of Spy Pond. In the mid-19th century, this was the epicentre of an ice-harvesting industry, slippery blocks cut and transported by rail to Boston's harbour and on to the Caribbean. More intriguing to my mind was the story, recounted on an interpretation board, of old Mother Batherwick who, while gathering dandelions here on 19 April 1775, happened upon six British soldiers retreating from the battles inland—and promptly took them prisoner.

More historic and natural gems followed. At Arlington, we rode under the steely (OK, bronzy) gaze of Uncle Sam—the Uncle Sam: one Samuel Wilson, a merchant born in Arlington, who won renown supplying the U.S. army during the war of 1812. Then came Schwamb Mill, the country's oldest continuously operating mill site, where wood has been shaped since around 1650; and Arlington's Great Meadows, an undulating swathe of swaying grasses, where crickets chirped their songs of summer under the trees.

Dashing through Lexington, we powered on to the Minuteman's end at Bedford where, had time permitted, I could have followed the dirt-track Reformatory Branch Trail to Concord's revolutionary sites.

For me, though, it was the end of the line. After a brief pause to photograph gleaming railcar No. 6211, a restored relic of the Boston and Maine Railroad, I bid Jeff farewell and zipped back to Lexington, my base for the night.

For the spot that lays claim to being the birthplace of the American Revolution, Lexington is a pleasantly understated burg. There are museums, of course—Buckman Tavern, mustering point of the militia, and the 1698 Hancock-Clarke Parsonage, where Revere warned Samuel Adams of the approaching regulars. At Battle Green, site of the first skirmish, militia leader Captain John Parker stands tall on his rocky plinth, clasping his musket, ready to defend his home town. More poignant still is the Old Burial Ground, where rustic gravestones etched with rudimentary winged skulls commemorate the travails of Lexington's earliest settlers. Parker, who died of consumption just months after he led the rebels in battle, lies here.

You don't have to cycle to Lexington, of course. Most visitors don't. But in transforming a disused railway line into a bikeway, the Minuteman has created something poetic from the prosaic—and a truly winsome way to explore the history of Massachusetts' insurrectionary forebears. Vive les revolutions!

More information

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/april/22/history-happened-here-the-minuteman-bikeway-a-revolution-on-two-wheels/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/april/22/history-happened-here-the-minuteman-bikeway-a-revolution-on-two-wheels/Wed, 22 April 2015 13:04:16 Transforming AtlantaRebecca Sernahttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/april/21/transforming-atlanta/Here's an excellent feature from the Fall 2014 edition of Rails to Trails magazine. One of many perks provided when you become an RTC member, our quarterly magazine includes lots of great stories like this.

When I moved into the City of Atlanta from an inner suburb 14 years ago, my Southwest Atlanta neighborhood turned out to be less than half a mile from what would become the Atlanta BeltLine. At the time, many of the city’s disused rail lines were completely obscured by kudzu and refuse. In other places, homeless people lived on the tracks in encampments. Atlanta had grown away from the early days when it was known as Terminus due to its confluence of rail lines and their importance for daily life and commerce.

Today, a decade and a half after Georgia Tech graduate student Ryan Gravel laid out a simple, elegant vision for those tracks in his master’s thesis, it’s safe to say that Atlanta is once again being shaped by the convergence of railroad tracks and development.

Photo by Christopher T. Martin

The term transformative is used regularly to describe the Atlanta BeltLine, an ambitious work-in-progress that eventually will become a 22-mile loop of public transit, trails and parks on a former rail and industrial corridor through the inner core of the city. Progress on the 30-year project includes the popular 2.5-mile Eastside Trail, as well as three spur trails, a bridge replacement, five new parks, and the environmental and physical groundwork for future transit.

Atlanta is a city of neighborhoods with a small urban core, and the BeltLine corridor connects some 45 neighborhoods of wildly varying economics, development and characters. City residents have a tendency to think of themselves as living in one of four quadrants: the prosperous and bustling Northeast, the quirky and hip Southeast, the overlooked but culturally vibrant Southwest and the bleak but rapidly redeveloping Northwest. For decades, these areas have led separate lives, cut off by urban renewal projects and interstate highways. It’s hard to overstate the potential impact of being able to travel conveniently crosstown between neighborhoods and quadrants on public transit or trails. It has certainly captured the public imagination.

Public enthusiasm for the idea was a key factor in establishing the basic funding mechanism for the BeltLine project—a form of tax increment financing called a Tax Allocation District, or TAD. In 2005, the City of Atlanta, Fulton County and Atlanta Public Schools approved the TAD, agreeing to freeze their tax base at the 2005 level of property tax revenue for the next 25 years. The increment, or growth, in property tax revenues will be used to create $1.7 billion in bonding capacity over 25 years, with the rest of the project to be funded through local investments, including private contributions and federal funds.

Photo by Ryan Gravel

But just how much is the project impacting the city? Go to the Eastside Trail, a BeltLine segment, and close your eyes. Even without looking at the apartments, restaurants and small businesses popping up, your ears will give you a sense of the change. That’s because every few minutes, you’re likely to hear the “squeak, squeak, squeak” of a bicycle someone has pulled out of the basement after years of disuse. Atlanta hasn’t always been the most walkable, bikeable city, but it’s getting there in large part due to the growing influence of the BeltLine.

Fast Forward

BeltLine advocates have always had lofty goals, aiming not just for rail-trails and public transit on the route but also for economic development, parks and affordable housing. Since 1999, the project has been responsible for the addition of five and a half miles of paved trail, seven miles of hiking trail and seven new parks. And although the loop is nowhere near complete, the BeltLine’s imprint on civic life, economic development, transportation and civic pride is distinct and spreading.

First, let’s talk transportation. Following a failed 2012 referendum to establish a sales tax that would fund more than $6 billion in transportation projects throughout the region, it was easy to see the BeltLine’s impact on the in-town vote. The referendum failed dismally in the rest of metro Atlanta, but passed with support from 50 percent of the electorate in the city itself.

Photo by Ethan Davidson

Former Atlanta City Council President Cathy Woolard was one of the project’s earliest champions. As Woolard, now a board member for Atlanta BeltLine, Inc., points out, “Among urban dwellers, it has crystallized what additional investment in transit will do for the community, because once they’ve been on the BeltLine, they understand very clearly how quickly and easily you can get [to] places that were previously inaccessible. It connects all these neighborhoods and helps people envision how they would conduct their life with transit."

When the Eastside Trail opened in 2012, a local television station came up with a creative way to demonstrate the trail’s immediate value. A reporter on a single-speed bike rode from one end of the trail to the other. He raced against a trail runner and a car plying the roads along the same route. The cyclist beat the other two handily. The runner was second. The driver got stuck in traffic and came in last.

The race demonstrated what has become the new reality for getting around in Atlanta. A recent Census report found increased rates of bicycle commuting in Atlanta, and anecdotal evidence points to the BeltLine as a central reason. The opening ceremony for the Eastside Trail was augmented by Atlanta Streets Alive, an open-streets event that encourages residents to get out and celebrate on foot or on bike. The trail filled up immediately, prompting some to say it could have been twice as wide and still feel full. Today, the BeltLine trail receives an estimated 3,000 users on a weekday and 10,000 users on weekends.

Despite the popularity, or perhaps because of it, the BeltLine has experienced some of the crime that is part of city life. The occasional stolen iPhone and mugging spurred the city to create a “PATH Force” of officers on foot and bike patrolling the trail.

Development Wave

Photo by Christopher T. Martin

Going beyond transportation to economic activity, the BeltLine has been an impetus for significant private development. As of July 2013, the BeltLine had stimulated construction of more than 90 projects along the Eastside Trail, either complete or underway, including 8,908 residential units and 870,700 square feet of commercial space. In total, this development represents $1.1 billion of new taxable value in the tax increment finance district.

“Whenever [I] see any news story with developers talking about something new in Atlanta, they talk about their project in relation to the BeltLine,” says Ethan Davidson, director of communications for the Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. “The center of gravity has shifted. The BeltLine is the equivalent of a waterfront destination.”

And this is just the first wave. According to Gravel, now an architect for Atlanta-based Perkins + Will, while the neighborhoods not directly on the BeltLine aren’t seeing this type of impact yet, they likely will.

He explains, “[Development] creates an economy around the lifestyle, and that fuels more change.” He adds that most retail is still physically separated from the BeltLine. Things are changing, though; for many businesses, what was once the rear entrance has become the front door, and many are shifting operations to create a more welcoming trail-facing entrance. Businesses several blocks from the BeltLine are now advertising their proximity and access to the trail, and some are even planning to build connections to it. One such connection under consideration would link to a Kroger once considered among the city’s least desirable grocery stores, but now being referred to with the moniker, “BeltLine Kroger.”

Photo courtesy Atlanta BeltLine, Inc.

Of course, there is another side to the development equation; as areas develop, affordability in the housing market becomes a concern. From the beginning, Atlanta residents in economically underserved parts of the city have worried about the potential for the BeltLine to speed up gentrification. On the Eastside, where property values were higher to start, most new housing on or near the BeltLine is expensive. That’s a tribute to the trail’s ability to create an immediate lifestyle change from car-centric to car-optional. People who can go easy on the driving, or even forgo private car ownership altogether—perhaps using a car-share program like Zipcar—have extra income for housing. And one of the project’s more ambitious goals is to build more than 5,600 new units of affordable workforce housing.

But in low-income communities, notes Gravel, “The answer isn’t not giving them trails. It’s about using existing tools to solve the economic equation.”

On the BeltLine, the Westside and Eastside trails are fundamentally different. The city won a federal TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grant last year to move construction forward on the Westside Trail, but little exists in the way of private development there. The Eastside is built on a generation of investment and has led to an estimated $775 million in private investment, according to the city, while the Westside has survived 40 years of disinvestment. The development impact on the Westside will not be as immediate or at the same magnitude.

Some aren’t too concerned about that—quite the opposite. “Our part of the BeltLine is very rustic, and I hope it stays that way,” says West End resident and local historian Robert Thompson. “It’s below street level, and in the summertime when the trees and vegetation fill in, you don’t even know you’re in the city. It’s a tremendous asset, not just in terms of transportation but in terms of being a serenity amenity for the neighborhood.”

The number one reason Thompson chose his current residence in the West End? Proximity to the BeltLine.

BELTLINE CHARM

The Atlanta BeltLine is no longer Atlanta’s best-kept secret. The success of the Eastside Trail alone caused the project’s popularity to explode, and it shows no signs of letting up as new parts of the project are completed.

To remind everyone to be neighborly and keep the BeltLine fun and enjoyable for all, the Atlanta BeltLine and Atlanta Bicycle Coalition teamed up to create an etiquette campaign aptly titled #BeltLineCharm. Friendly volunteers hold up signs with simple reminders about courtesy on the trails—things like moderating bike speed, staying to the right when walking and exercising pet etiquette.

Big Picture

Volunteers on Earth Day | Photo by Christopher T. Martin

Community engagement has also undergone a shift since the early, heady days of the BeltLine. Friends of the BeltLine, a group started by Ryan Gravel and other advocates in the early 2000s, was dissolved as the project gained official status, but many feel the BeltLine’s grassroots relit the spirit of citizen involvement at the neighborhood level.

Angel Poventud, a community activist perhaps best known regionally for his enthusiasm, and occasional critique, of the BeltLine, notes, “Before the BeltLine, neighborhoods were concerned only about what was happening in their neighborhood. The BeltLine allowed communities to think on a grander scale about vision for not only their community but all of Atlanta’s communities. They’re beyond excited; they’re engaged. They’re not only going to meetings, but creating meetings.”

He cited a recent presentation given by four Southwest neighborhoods to BeltLine officials. In a reversal of the planning process norm, the residents laid out their vision for the project to officials, rather than reacting to a plan being presented to them. It was a neat shift that captured the renewed sense of citizen involvement in what’s happening in the city.

Davidson first heard about the project on a visit from New York, when he was serving in Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration and with the David Rockefeller Fellows Program for the Partnership for New York City. “The BeltLine seemed like the issue I wanted to be part of. It was clear to me that this did have the potential to completely reshape and redefine [Atlanta]. I had no doubt it was going to change the city forever.”

Participants of the Eastside 10k in 2013 | Photo by Christopher T. Martin

He cites the most recent Atlanta Streets Alive in the historic West End as an indication of the cultural shift that may be just as important as the infrastructure improvements. In a city fragmented into quadrants by social convention and social networks, the event not only showcased a little known neighborhood gem to those who’d never been south of Interstate 20, but also showed people from the West End and Adair Park what could be in store for them when the Westside Trail opens.

Even coming from New York, Davidson was surprised by the level of cynicism he encountered at early BeltLine meetings. He says that people on the South Side of Atlanta, in particular, had grown accustomed to being passed over for development projects and job creation. But now that a few portions of the BeltLine have trails in place, and people are using them and making them their own, he sees “a level of hope and pride in the city that wasn’t there before.”

The BeltLine, as Woolard puts it, “is the one forum where it all comes together: transportation, schools, affordable housing, safety and how people feel about how things are going.” In a city once divided by highways and urban renewal projects designed to separate white from black, wealthy from low income, development from homeless, a project explicitly designed to connect us is about as transformative as it gets.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/april/21/transforming-atlanta/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/april/21/transforming-atlanta/Tue, 21 April 2015 11:30:08 21,000 Voices Tell Congress to Support Federal Bike/Ped FundingLeeann Sinpatanasakulhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/april/20/21-000-voices-tell-congress-to-support-federal-bikeped-funding/“Wow.” That’s what we said on Thursday of last week when we tallied up the signatures for our national petition and found that nearly 21,000 supporters like you had responded. The current federal surface transportation bill will expire on May 31, 2015, and now is the ideal time for supporters of trails, walking and biking to have your say. Supporters like you responded in a huge way by signing on to the following petition:

Petition for Trail Funding

These projects not only connect our neighborhoods, they boost local economies, preserve some of our most cherished places and build healthier, more active communities across the nation.

I urge Congress to support investments in trails, walking and biking programs as they take up the next transportation bill.

Patrick Wojahn and Marianne Wesley Fowler of RTC's advocacy team before delivering the 21,000-strong petition to Congress | Photo by RTC

Instead of killing more trees and printing out several hundred pages of signatures and comments, we printed out one copy of the petition and packaged it with a CD-ROM to bring to Capitol Hill (see picture). We then delivered the petitions to the congressional leaders who will play an important role in shaping the next surface transportation bill, including Reps. Shuster, DeFazio, Graves and Holmes Norton, and Sens. Inhofe, Boxer, Vitter, Carper, Cochran and Cardin. After that, we sent an email to every member of Congress and every staff member dealing with transportation to inform them of the thousands of petition signatures we received.

Last year, RTC engaged leading Democratic and Republican pollsters to conduct a nationwide survey of 1,000 likely 2016 voters. The results were remarkable; 74 percent of respondents said they want to increase or maintain federal investment in walking and biking paths. The incredible response to our petition reaffirmed what we already demonstrated to Congress: Americans overwhelmingly support federal investment in trails, walking and biking.

Many of you who signed the petition also wrote wonderful comments explaining to Congress why you support federal funding for trails and active-transportation networks: Trails are a low cost way for me to stay healthy; trails provide a safe place for my grandchildren to walk or bike; trail tourism helps boost local economies, especially in rural areas like mine; trails help me spend time with my family and friends.

These personalized messages have a huge impact. We were so pleased to be able to deliver these petition signatures on your behalf. The sheer number of petition signatures, along with the heartfelt comments, will leave a lasting impression with members of Congress.

RTC will continue to work with members of Congress to ensure that funding for trails, walking and biking remains in the next transportation bill, but we couldn’t do it without your support and your voice. By speaking up for trails, you are making a huge difference. Thank you!

“Trails are the great equalizer. It’s the simplest thing to do: Put on shoes, go outdoors, and find a trail to get healthy.”

Las Vegas: The name conjures up bright lights, flamboyant shows, glitzy hotels and casinos that never close, but a growing outdoor movement is changing that perception. The Las Vegas Valley that encompasses the city of a thousand lights has a thousand miles of trail, including the developing Vegas Valley Rim Trail, which will encircle the valley and connect some of the state’s greatest treasures—like sapphire-blue Lake Mead, the jaw-dropping Hoover Dam and the newly dedicated Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument where mammoths, American lions and dire wolves once roamed. Already in place is the 13.4-mile Lower Las Vegas Wash Trail, which comprises the trail network’s eastern arc and is always a sure bet with beautiful parks, desert landscapes and vistas of the rugged mountains that ring the valley.

Biking at Craig Ranch trailhead | Photo by Alan O'Neill

“Our trails are our best, least-told stories,” says Mauricia Baca, executive director of the Outside Las Vegas Foundation, a nonprofit that facilitates coordination between the cities, county and other entities concerned with open space and trails in the region. “They’re a wonderful asset, but every day I meet someone that doesn’t know about our trails and parks.”

Helping to get the word out is Neon to Nature, an initiative driven by the Southern Nevada Health District to brand and promote the region’s vast system of trails. It’s building public awareness with a searchable trail-finder website and newly launched mobile app.

“Their motivation is combating obesity,” says Baca about the health district. “Trails are the great equalizer. It’s the simplest thing to do: Put on shoes, go outdoors, and find a trail to get healthy.”

With a growing trail system crossing so many jurisdictional boundaries, a concerted effort was needed. “Trails were the one thing that brought us all together,” reflects Connie Diso, a project engineer for the City of Las Vegas Public Works Department. “Before the trail effort in the Valley, all the entities were concerned with their own developments.” Now, she says, monthly collaborative meetings for the regional working group are actually fun. “There’s that recreational aspect that created a bond between those entities; we were happy to talk about trails!”

Scott Hagen, a senior planner with Clark County, expressed a similar sentiment. “If you were sitting in one of our meetings, you’d think, ‘Wow! All this is happening in southern Nevada?’ There are so many facets. We’ve finally gotten a lot of horsepower in the last dozen years.”

A boon for the Valley’s outdoor recreational projects came in 1998 with the passage of the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act, which allowed the money earned from the sale of federal lands to be used for local parks and trails. In a western state like Nevada—where the federal government owns more than 80 percent of the land—the law had a huge impact on the funding and construction of these projects.

Left: Several unique shade shelters can be found along the Las Vegas trail system, including this one at the intersection of the Lower Las Vegas Wash Trail and the Flamingo Arroyo Trail. | Photo by Eric Arnold Photography — Right: Dog walker at Craig Ranch | Photo by Alan O'Neill

Although the desire and funding fell into place for trails, in a densely populated area like Las Vegas, finding space to put them proved challenging. The Las Vegas Wash, a drainage channel that feeds into Lake Mead, provided the opportune corridor. The main spine of the trail, dubbed the “Lower” Las Vegas Wash Trail, was built parallel to the waterway for most of its journey; a shorter, 3.5-mile spur, dubbed the Upper Las Vegas Wash Trail, branches off at Alexander Road. The wash itself is a mixture of concrete-lined channel and natural stream bed.

Now nearly complete, the Lower Las Vegas Wash Trail stretches more than a dozen miles from North Las Vegas, through Las Vegas and into Clark County. Only a half-mile gap between Stewart Avenue and Charleston Boulevard remains; the gap’s closure—which will be coupled with the construction of a new pedestrian bridge and a flood control project—is expected to be completed in 2018.

With an outstanding recreational gem at either end, the trail is heavily used. On its northern end, Craig Ranch Regional Park, which opened in 2013, was once a golf course and offers rolling terrain, community gardens, athletic fields, an elaborate playground and one of the country’s largest skate parks. City planners want to extend the trail farther north to Floyd Lamb Park, the gateway to Tule Springs, to connect visitors with the park’s equestrian pathways and nature walks, picnic areas and showy peacocks running wild (this is Vegas after all).

On the trail’s southern end, the pathway seamlessly blends into the 18-mile Flamingo Arroyo Trail, which continues the route southeast along the wash to something unexpected in the Mojave Desert: the nearly 3,000-acre Clark County Wetlands Park. Like a fabled oasis in an area that sees only about four inches of rain a year, the park offers a vibrant green swath teeming with wildlife amidst the quiet tans, warm grays and rosy browns of the desert backdrop. From the southern end of the park, adventurists can hook up to the scenic River Mountains Loop Trail to journey on to Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam.

“Get out of the casinos,” advises Diso. “There’s so much out here, and it’s beautiful.”

1Spring into Opening Day (U.S.)

What’s the best way to celebrate the start of spring? Opening Day for Trails, of course! This year, more than 17,000 people across the country hit a trail on Saturday, March 28. Sponsors, including REI, Fuji Bikes, Yakima Racks, Camelbak and Clif Bar made this day a memorable success by helping out along the way.

2Cycle from Cylburn! (Md.)

And of course…you can’t have Opening Day for Trails without celebrating the opening of a new trail. On March 28, Baltimore celebrated the recent extension of the 10-mile Jones Falls Trail, which runs between the Cylburn Arboretum and the Woodberry neighborhood—making it possible for trail users to take the Jones Falls Trail from Cylburn to the Inner Harbor. Although it was a chilly start to the spring season, more than a few dozen supporters gathered at the Cylburn Arboretum for the celebration, which included AmeriCorps volunteer support and loaner bikes compliments of the Ride Around bike loaner program.

3Going to See the King (Pa.)

Baltimore isn’t the only city celebrating a new trail. Opening Day in Philadelphia marked the opening of the Chester Valley Trail as well. This 13-mile long trail connects Exton to King of Prussia. What’s particularly notable about this trail is that it’s a part of the Greater Philadelphia region’s expanding trail network called the Circuit. This opening was another step on the road to completion for the network, which will eventually include 750 miles of trails!

5Sudbury's in Line! (Mass.)

Moving up north to Massachusetts, a state committee has great news for Sudbury’s portion of the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail. The committee approved future funding for this (to be fully paved) section of the larger, 25-mile-long trail, which will span from Lowell to Framingham.

6Volusia Vision to Become a Reality (Fla.)

Volusia County in Florida should be happy to hear that approval for funding of another 20 miles of trail has reached them as well! The county council approved grant agreements with the state for $13.9 million in federal funding for design and construction of the trail. This rail-trail will be the longest single corridor ever acquired by the state. Not only is it part of a larger, 250-mile stretch called the Coast to Coast Connector, it’s also being built on the bed of an historic railroad built in the 1800s.

7More to See from Mountains to Sea (N.C.)

Wait—we almost forgot another trail opening! The Onslow Bight and Jacksonville segment of the Coastal Crescent Trail, which opened on April 6, will link about 91 miles of barrier islands, marshes, wetlands and longleaf pine savannas in North Carolina. This area is one of the nation’s most ecologically diverse. Also, the pathway happens to be part of the Mountains to Sea Trail, which extends more than 1,150 miles from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Outer Banks!

8Bikepool to Work (Calif.)

Though biking through the pristine wilderness of North Carolina must be a great stress reliever, riding your bike to work through the city has its benefits, too. Just ask the City of San Jose and Silicon Valley Coalition, who decided to pilot the first formal San Jose Bikepool on March 18, 2015. Bikepooling is just like carpooling, with one major difference. You guessed it: bikes! The group commute solution is designed to get people out of their cars—and into pedaling on the road. With designated pickup locations, and safety in numbers, Bikepooling is setting a fun, safe and invigorating precedent for ways to get to work without a car.

9150 in 150 Charleston Challenge (W.Va.)

Of course, biking is a great way to get around and stay in shape, but we can’t forget about what is sometimes an understated form of exercise…walking! On April 6, the city of Charleston, West Virginia, kicked off their Power Walking 150 initiative, which is encouraging people to walk, run or even bike 150 miles in 150 days. This campaign starts in April and ends in September and coincides with West Virginia’s Power baseball season, just FYI.

10Legendary Rail-Trail Is Turning 50 (Wis.)

With the various openings of new trails to kick off the spring season, it’s only right to mention a notable anniversary that highlights the history of rail-trails in the United States. About 50 years ago, Wisconsin became one of the first states to convert an abandoned railroad corridor into a recreational corridor with the creation of the Elroy-Sparta State Trail. Since the establishment of this trail in 1965, Wisconsin has developed 40 state trails (36 of them are rail-trails) encompassing more than 2,000 miles. On National Trails Day, June 6, a celebration will take place on the trail to commemorate a great half-century.

Is there a rail-trail opening or major milestone event related to a rail-trail or bike/ped project in your local area? Tell us!

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/april/09/what-s-happening-rail-trail-roundup-april-2015/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/april/09/what-s-happening-rail-trail-roundup-april-2015/Thu, 09 April 2015 18:24:45 How Could Michigan's Proposition 1 Impact Walking and Biking?Leeann Sinpatanasakulhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/april/08/how-could-michigans-proposition-1-impact-walking-and-biking/If you live in Michigan, chances are you’ve heard about Proposition 1, a transportation funding proposal that will be on the ballot on May 5. You may also know the reason why the investment from this proposal is necessary. The state’s roads are not just bad but outright dangerous.

If passed, Proposition 1 would provide critical funding to rebuild and repair Michigan’s roads, bridges and other transportation infrastructure. It would do this without cutting funding for schools and local municipalities, as previous plans proposed. Detailed information about this complicated proposal is available from the Michigan Environmental Council and the Detroit Free Press.

So what does this proposal have to do with trails, and why should you vote yes for it?

What Proposition 1 Means for Trails

While much of the funding in Proposition 1 goes toward repairing Michigan’s roads, a small portion would be dedicated to other modes of transportation, including walking and biking. Even this small amount of funds could support big bike/ped opportunities in Michigan.

Simply put, when state funding for transportation increases, funding for trails, walking and biking increases. A Michigan law enacted in 1951 (Public Act 51) specifies certain ways that revenue in the state’s transportation fund is spent. The law ensures that transportation funding not only goes to roads, but also to mass transit and to walking and biking. It specifies that 1 percent of the funds are dedicated to active-transportation facilities such as trails, and walking and biking networks.

If Proposition 1 passes, $13 million in additional funding per year will be dedicated to building and maintaining places to walk and bike. Proposition 1 would make driving safer by repairing roads and bridges, but it would also make walking and biking safer by dedicating a small portion to building and maintaining infrastructure like sidewalks, bike lanes and trails. Additionally, $20 million per year would be dedicated to recreational facilities, which could include trails.

Best Chance to Fund Transportation

Proposition 1 is not a perfect plan; it is complicated, and there are as many opinions on it as there are people. However, it’s important to note that Proposition 1 will not only fund transportation improvements, it will continue funding for schools, local police and fire services that would have otherwise been cut to pay for transportation improvements. Importantly, it will place transportation and school funding in “lock boxes” to prevent legislators from playing shell games with future revenue.

Vote Yes on Proposition 1

If passed, Proposition 1 would invest critical funding in Michigan’s transportation infrastructure to repair roads and bridges and keep public transit running. As per law, it would also invest $13 million by 2017 in building and maintaining places to walk and bike.

Now, it is up to the voters to fund transportation in Michigan.

If you are a Michigan resident, you can help ensure the passing of Proposition 1 by pledging to vote YES on May 5 and by sharing this post with your family and friends. The vote is in May, when voter turnout is likely to be low, so every vote counts.

Can we count on you to help? Share this blog and our e-card (like the one above) with others, and then head to the polls on Election Day!

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/april/08/how-could-michigans-proposition-1-impact-walking-and-biking/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/april/08/how-could-michigans-proposition-1-impact-walking-and-biking/Wed, 08 April 2015 17:17:51 Made in Detroit: Energy, Optimism and the Resurgence of America's Motor CityJake Lynchhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/april/08/made-in-detroit-energy-optimism-and-the-resurgence-of-americas-motor-city/Here's an excellent feature from the Fall 2014 edition of Rails to Trails magazine. One of many perks provided when you become an RTC member, our quarterly magazine includes lots of great stories like this.

At the Motown Café and Grill on East Jefferson Avenue one October morning last year, a small group gathers in a booth near the window. The visitors peer out, studying with some interest the wide roadway in front of the diner. Minutes pass between solitary cars. The six lanes of East Jefferson Avenue—as wide as most interstate highways—are for the most part empty.

Photo by Joe Gall

“For people who do what we do,” says one of the visitors, a man from Ohio, “this city is amazing.” Around the Motown, eyebrows are raised. It is a description that, in recent times, is not often heard here in Detroit.

This particular spot on East Jefferson occupies a meaningful place in the living history of the city. Eber Brock Ward—steel, iron, steamship and railway magnate, and Detroit’s first millionaire—is buried just a block north of here in the Eastside Historic Cemetery District. So, too, are Jerome Cavanagh and Coleman Young, both mayors of Detroit during cataclysmic moments in the city’s history. Cavanagh led the city during the 1967 riots. The tenure of Young, Detroit’s first African-American mayor, was marked by both a dramatic rise in downtown development and crime rates, and the beginning of an exodus of the white middle class to the suburbs.

This stretch used to be one of the city’s most prosperous commercial areas. Its story of decline, the city’s story of decline, has by force of repetition and simplification become a defining trait of the place for many who have never been here.

But for Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC), and our peers and partners in Michigan, there are other stories in this city, other moments and achievements to describe the people who live here and to illuminate the landscape, physical and otherwise.

The Dequindre Cut Greenway | Photo by Joe Gall

And so, from the Motown, we look a few blocks west to a place where the new growth of a more forward thinking and optimistic Detroit is already beginning to bear fruit. It is there, at the site of the Detroit Dry Docks—where a young Henry Ford served his apprenticeship—that the Dequindre Cut rail-trail and the Detroit RiverWalk converge.

The man in the diner so amazed at the Detroit he observed was Eric Oberg, RTC’s manager of trail development in the Midwest. What impressed him and the group of active-transportation professionals that took in the wide and empty expanses of Jefferson Avenue was the space. A metropolis built by the production of, and as a monument to, the motor car, the streets of Detroit anticipated only the continued growth of its idol. The cars have largely disappeared, but the roads remain. What Oberg and his peers saw in these abandoned avenues were miles and miles of fantastic potential, the underutilized space custom built to accommodate other forms of transportation and bolster the growing culture of biking and walking that promises to upend the bankruptcy and foreclosures as the real story of today’s Detroit.

“The city is looking for a new identity,” Oberg says. “They look at walking, biking and trails as ways to revitalize their communities and put a fresh face on this vintage American city.”

The metamorphosis of the Rust Belt centers has become America’s latest genuine epoch, like the rush to the West in the 19th century or the spread of American suburbia in the 1950s and 60s. Among the traits of this resurgence, the diminishing role of the motor car in favor of walkable and bikeable neighborhoods is perhaps the most enduring. In Detroit, the Dequindre Cut, the Detroit RiverWalk and the Conner Creek Greenway, three still-expanding sections of an envisioned trail network, are perhaps the most heralded public responses to this shift.

The Dequindre Cut Greenway | Photo by Dan Pieniak

The Dequindre Cut is a beautiful example of the great potential of urban rail-trails. In the 1920s, the Grand Trunk Railroad carved a trench 25 feet below the busy street for their trains serving the Detroit waterfront. By the mid-1980s, the corridor sat vacant, trash and weeds replacing the fruitful passage of humans and goods. The only traffic of any note was usually illicit.

Today, the Dequindre Cut is one of the most recognizable rail-trails in the country and is a matter of great pride for Detroiters.

“It’s beautiful, ‘The Cut,’” says local photographer Joe Gall, whose images of the city’s bike culture have become some of the most famous products of this diverse and colorful scene. “It passes right underneath the busiest part of the city, which is nice. Everyone uses it.”

Though currently just more than one mile in length, the great utility of “The Cut” is simple; it goes where the people who live there want to go, connecting the riverfront area with the Eastern Market to the north, heading in the direction of the popular Midtown neighborhood. A northward extension of the Dequindre Cut, now under construction and scheduled for an early 2015 opening, has already ramped up development interest in properties along the corridor.

The realization of the Dequindre Cut, and perhaps almost all the significant trail development in the area over the past decade, is traced back to an organization called the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan (CFSEM) and a pool of money and support known as the GreenWays Initiative.

Photo by Joe Gall

About $25 million in CFSEM funding and private contributions unlocked another $90 million of public and private investment in an inspired five-year span of trail development between 2001 and 2006.

One of the first projects the GreenWays Initiative breathed life into was the Conner Creek Greenway.

“At first, people laughed. They thought we were insane,” says Patricia Bosch. A longtime resident of Detroit’s northeast side, Bosch recalls the birth of a grassroots effort in the early 1990s “to improve the quality of life in this area, and our economic development.” One of the first opportunities identified by the newly formed Norwood Community Development Corporation was Connor Creek, an overgrown and disrupted waterway running from Eight Mile Road south to the Detroit River.

With the support of University of Michigan graduate students and GreenWays Initiative funding, the Connor Creek Greenway ceased being such a funny joke and instead became a tangible asset that is now playing an important role in revitalizing the corridor. Today, about six miles of the nine-mile pathway are complete.

Photo by Joe Gall

“It’s led to this diversity of activity, but it’s also uniting our neighborhoods and creating lateral connections,” Bosch says. “By that, I mean it’s not only provided a connection between Detroit and its suburbs, but it’s also linking the neighborhoods of Detroit, and that’s the beauty of it. And it’s fun, besides.”

The story of the GreenWays Initiative is also the story of Tom Woiwode, former director of the Michigan chapter of The Nature Conservancy. In 2001, it was Woiwode who launched the effort that would come to have such a profound impact on the city.

“Many of these investments are physically transformative in such a way that it actually allows people to think differently about their community, the way they relate to their community and the way they relate to each other,” he says. “It was important to us for people to reacquaint themselves with the city and actively participate.”

Trails and pathways have given residents a convenient, healthy, affordable and active way to explore their city. The simplicity of the concept belies its power.

“Historically, this was not available to them,” Woiwode says. “Once these transformative infrastructure investments started to take place, once people started to see what opportunities were available to them to engage with their city, the appetite for it has ramped up significantly. Now, it’s only whatever constraints our imagination may have.”

Just as the Connor Creek Greenway follows a natural and essential current toward the city’s riverine artery, in recent years the people of Detroit have begun to look again to their river as the polestar of the community. The most visible and remarkable expression of that renewed interest in the city’s waterfront is the Detroit RiverWalk.

A leisurely bike ride on the Detroit Riverwalk | Photo by Joe Gall

Up until a few years ago, the Detroit River’s edge was lined with parking lots and derelict spaces, the somehow universal no man’s land of light industry, or private, inaccessible parcels.

The formation of the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy, Inc. in 2003 would prove to be a pivotal moment in the city’s history.

The audacious goal was free access for the people—a 5.5-mile multi-use promenade and pathway from the Ambassador Bridge east to MacArthur Bridge and Belle Isle, which the RiverWalk’s architects knew would be an amenity that would invigorate Detroit and its residents.

The timing was right. It was a period of intense and ambitious development, and the City of Detroit provided critical sections of riverfront land and infrastructure improvements. Pursuing a creative strategy of private and public funding support, the RiverWalk project was heavily backed by General Motors (GM), one of the key waterfront landowners, and the Kresge Foundation, which donated $50 million as a challenge grant to encourage matching private and public sector contributions.

The RiverWalk today is a vibrant place. GM workers on their lunch break stroll past people fishing, tourists renting bikes from the Wheelhouse, joggers and families.

This spring, the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy celebrated the opening of two new sections of public RiverWalk parks, including the revitalized 20-acre former site of the Detroit Free Press printing plant. The original vision for the RiverWalk is now about three-quarters realized.

On the Street

In addition to these key trail segments, the local appetite for biking is also being fueled by the massive expanses of underutilized roadway. What could be perceived as a white elephant has in fact become Detroit’s competitive advantage in the race between new urban centers toward bikeability.

Photo by Joe Gall

Detroit’s wide and underutilized roads have spawned one of the greatest street riding cultures anywhere in the world. If you’re looking for the truly iconic Detroit street machine, these days it’s much more likely to be a Grown Men On Bikes (G.M.O.B.) custom-built Lowrider than a Lincoln.

The abundance of road space has facilitated an explosion in striped bike lanes—from not a single mile in 2009 to about 150 miles today, 80 miles of which were created in 2013 alone. The rapid change in the size and flows of the city over the past decade has essentially hit a reset button for transportation and movement in Detroit.

“In the past, not many people lived within biking distance of where the jobs were,” says Todd Scott, Detroit greenways coordinator for the Michigan Trails and Greenways Alliance. “That’s changing now as more jobs are moving downtown.”

Scott says the major downtown projects—the RiverWalk and the Dequindre Cut—are just the first stages of much broader redevelopment focused around mobility and quality of life.

“That vision is to build biking and walking trails throughout the entire city to give everyone the opportunity to get out and recreate, to commute, to save money with affordable transportation and to live healthy lives.”

One might be able to dismiss Scott’s lofty ambition as wishful thinking, were it not for what he and his peers have already been able to make real.

Photo by Joe Gall

But as we explore the engines behind this new and emerging Detroit, the infrastructure is only half the story. The other half is the people. Unlike engineering accomplishments and master plans, the origins of which can always be traced to a concept draft, human passions and the collective consciousness of a community are altogether more enigmatic. Culture shifts, trends, the communal sharing of ambition; though the causes are hard to document, their impacts can be profound, and in few places is this more demonstrable than the booming bike culture of Detroit.

K’Loni Thorpe describes it as a “take the initiative” culture. It’s the perfect description of a simple idea that captures the spirit that now exists in Detroit and is as palpable today as once was the soot pollution and factory emissions. Confronted by a vacuum of civic management, a new generation of Detroiters is embracing a unique mix of entrepreneurship and collective action to create the city they want to see and be a part of.

“We take what we love,” Thorpe continues. “We love to bike, and we love to eat good food, and so we are making it happen.” She is referring to Detroit Bike and Brunch, a company/event/ social movement that Thorpe founded with her husband and a friend in 2012, which is based around the simple idea of getting together on the weekend to ride to local restaurants. Two years later, those casual jaunts with a handful of friends have grown to a calendar of regular rides, a burgeoning community of customers and followers, and a small local promotion and management staff. According to Marketing Director Brandi Keeler, Bike and Brunch is as much a product of Detroit’s growing bike culture as a catalyst for it.

“I think the city is in the middle of a really big change,” Keeler says. “You know how Harlem had a renaissance? Well, this is Detroit’s renaissance, right now.”

That optimism, and a fervent belief that a new Detroit should be shaped by the people who live there, also characterizes another remarkable new expression of Detroit’s bike culture.

Like Bike and Brunch, Slow Roll started with modest ambitions but soon captured the rising swell of energy for biking and local exploration.

Photo by Joe Gall

“It started with just a small group of friends and people we knew, about 10 of us, who wanted to explore the city by bike,” says Mike MacKool, co-founder of what is now one of Michigan’s biggest bike events. Emerging from local bike nerve centers like The Hub and Back Alley Bikes, grassroots buzz has turned this casual Monday night ride into a phenomenon involving up to 1,600 riders exploring neighborhoods, art projects, community gardens, historic buildings and local businesses.

The appeal is clear: a diversity of experiences, and inclusivity.

“Slow Roll is for everyone,” the founders proclaim on their website. “All ages and types of bikes, with a slow pace that’s geared to keep everyone together and safe.”

The “take the initiative” culture is proving fertile soil for many grassroots bike efforts across the city, few more dedicated than Brush Park BMX, downtown Detroit’s first hand-built DIY (do it yourself) BMX playground.

Completely volunteer built and funded (“Bring a shovel, dig to ride. Respect the neighborhood. Take pride in your city. Be the change!”), Brush Park’s construction was started by a group of friends in April of last year—a form of guerrilla development by people who see a world of possibility where others might see just the detritus of decline.

“It energizes you, and it gives you hope,” Patricia Bosch says of the growing movement in Detroit around trails and greenways, biking and walking. “And hope is the important ingredient. It generates the buzz that Detroit is not a bad place, and is actually an inviting place for people of all ages, of all nationalities, all ethnic groups, to come and be a part of this movement to make it a better place, and have fun here. That’s what we actually feel in our hearts, as residents.”

We explored the Web for unique shots of rail-trails looking their finest. Take a look at what we found...

1 Klickitat Trail

Almost as fun to say as it is to experience, Washington State's 31-mile Klickitat Trail includes two disconnected sections. Trail users can experience 11 miles of this trail along the nationally designated Wild and Scenic Klickitat River. Learn more ➙

3 Sacramento River Trail

The pride of Redding, California's trail system is the Sacramento River Trail, a 16-mile network that runs along the banks of the Sacramento River, offering stunning views of the water and nearby mountains and a close-up look at one of the most breathtaking bicycle/pedestrian bridges in the country. Learn more ➙

4 Great Allegheny Passage

Now the longest rail-trail east of the Mississippi River, the 150-mile Great Allegheny Passage spans two states, running from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Cumberland, Maryland, as it traces the paths of railroads that helped build America. Learn more ➙

5 High Bridge Trail

Spend a day in the clouds on Virginia's 32.4-mile High Bridge Trail, and experience its 2,440-foot-long central feature that towers nearly 13 stories above the mighty Appomattox River. This trail is a dream for both Civil War history buffs and those who love a good view above the treetops. High Bridge, now restored and part of the trail that winds through South Central Virginia, was a strategic point for both Union and Confederate soldiers near the end of the Civil War. Learn more ➙

9 West Fork River Trail

West Virginia's 18.5-mile West Fork River Trail provides a snapshot of some of the most beautiful scenery in this region. The trail's path was once used by the far-reaching Baltimore & Ohio Railroad to deliver coal. Today's plans, however, are to transport people and link this rail-trail to the American Discovery Trail. Learn more ➙

11 Ferry County Rail Trail

Just south of the Canadian border in northern Washington State, the Ferry County Rail Trail is nestled in between vast areas of national forest land as it runs along the seven-mile Curlew Lake and parallels the Granby River. Learn more ➙

14 Sydney, Australia

While we're not sure of the exact trail or location for this image, we do know it's from Sydney, Australia, where the organization Rail Trails Australia is working to "promote and support local Rail Trail groups to establish an Australia-wide network of paths and linear nature reserves along closed railway lines."

15 D & L Trail

The D & L Trail is a combination of canal towpath and rail-trail following the earthen canal towpath on the east side of the Lehigh River and a crushed-stone rail-trail on the west between Slatington and the Lehigh Gap Nature Center. Learn more ➙

16West Orange Trail

Connecting small communities and suburban neighborhoods, the 22-mile West Orange Trail is one of Florida's most popular rail-trails thanks to its reputation and proximity to metro Orlando. Learn more ➙

17Katy Trail State Park

In Missouri, Katy Trail State Park is one of the nation's longest rail-trail projects—comprising nearly 238 miles of scenic trail built especially for walkers and cyclists and stretching east from Clinton to Machens in St. Charles County. This trail was selected as a member of the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame in September 2007. Learn more ➙

19 Ohio to Erie Trail

On Ohio's in-progress, 320-mile Ohio to Erie Trail, you'll one day be able to travel from the Ohio River in Cincinnati to Lake Erie's shore in Cleveland. Two hundred and forty miles of the vast system are already complete and open for use! Learn more ➙

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/april/07/19-awesome-rail-trail-photos-youve-probably-never-seen/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/april/07/19-awesome-rail-trail-photos-youve-probably-never-seen/Tue, 07 April 2015 15:03:51 What Does Obama’s Grow America Act Mean for Trails?Patrick Wojahnhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/april/03/what-does-obama-s-grow-america-act-mean-for-trails/GROW America Act Offers Some Benefits But Limited New Investment in Trails, and Bicycle and Pedestrian Networks

On Tuesday, March 30, 2015, the Obama Administration released the latest version of the GROW America Act, intended to fund surface transportation for the next six years. Due to inflation, and the fact that the gas tax has not been increased since 1993, transportation funding is in need of new revenue. This bill would establish a one-time, 14 percent tax on currently untaxed foreign earnings that U.S. companies have accumulated overseas, providing $2 trillion in new transportation funding over the next six years. As the U.S. Department of Transportation’s overview explains, this will provide a $317 billion investment in our nation’s highway system and road safety and a $115 billion investment in transit systems.

So what about trails and bike/ped networks? Like the administration’s similar bill last year, this version of the GROW America Act includes a proposal intended to bring more dollars to fund local transportation priorities—like safe places to walk and bike. The bill would do this by allowing the U.S. Department of Transportation to establish “high-performance” metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), which would receive greater control over funds allocated through the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), the main source of funds for bicycle and pedestrian projects. MPOs are the main local authorities charged with transportation planning in every metropolitan area, and this would allow those who work in regions that excel in certain performance areas, such as bicycle and pedestrian safety, to dedicate more of those funds to local priorities.

What the bill does not include is any explicit increase in funding for TAP, or for trails or pedestrian and bicycle networks, in any other program. Because funding for TAP is set by a formula—2 percent, to be precise—of overall funding from certain titles of the transportation funding bill, an increase in road funding also would mean a proportional increase in TAP funds. However, the new bill would do very little to get people out of their cars and onto their bikes or feet. It would not address the large nationwide demand for funding more networks of connected trails, bike lanes and sidewalks, nor would it increase the amount set aside in TAP for recreational trails.

Although the administration’s proposal is not likely to pass Congress, RTC appreciates the administration’s effort to promote bicycle and pedestrian connectivity in new and innovative ways. On the other hand, the Obama Administration should have recognized the demand for recreational trails, and bicycle and pedestrian networks, and proposed to increase federal investment in these active-transportation modes accordingly. RTC will continue to work with Congress to ask that any bill to reauthorize our federal surface transportation funding program includes significant investment in trails, and bicycle and pedestrian networks, and builds on our active-transportation system to enable people to walk or bike to wherever they need to go.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/april/03/what-does-obama-s-grow-america-act-mean-for-trails/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/april/03/what-does-obama-s-grow-america-act-mean-for-trails/Fri, 03 April 2015 11:51:34 Top 5 Attractions on the Montour TrailLaura Starkhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/march/31/top-5-attractions-on-the-montour-trail/With a length of 55 miles, there’s a lot to love on western Pennsylvania’s Montour Trail. Our top five attractions for this rail-trail located just outside of Pittsburgh are included below. Join RTC this June 21-26 to check them out yourself, plus lots more, on the famed Great Allegheny Passage during our Pennsylvania Rail-Trail Sojourn. And hats off to the Montour Trail Council, the volunteer group that made the trail possible; read their unique story in March’s Trail of the Month.

1McDonald Viaduct

With a span of nearly 1,000 feet, the McDonald Viaduct is massive and the Montour Trail’s longest bridge, crossing over local roads, a stream and another rail-trail. Its vantage offers expansive views of the lush, tree-covered landscape and, less than 100 feet below, the Panhandle Trail stretching out beneath you. A trail junction allows you to connect to the scenic, 29-mile rail-trail and head west all the way to—and past—the state line and into neighboring West Virginia. (Near mile 18)

2National Tunnel

The National Tunnel—named for the nearby National Coal Company mines that the railroad once served—is the Montour Trail’s longest tunnel at more than 600 feet. It’s curved, so you can’t see the other end; lights and pavement with guiding reflectors along the trail edge were added to ease navigation. The tunnel’s cool, damp interior is a welcome respite in summer, but in winter, the dripping water can cause beautiful (though dangerous) icicles along the ceiling and mounds of ice on the tunnel floor. (Mile 25)

Greer Tunnel on the Montour Trail | Photo by David Poe, courtesy The Tandem Connection

3Chartiers Creek High Bridge

This attraction is a two-for-one; not only does the Chartiers Creek High Bridge offer some of the prettiest vistas on the trail, but it also sits adjacent to the 235-foot-long Greer Tunnel, both built in the early 1900s. On the other (east) side of the tunnel is another bridge, which crosses over a railroad. (Near mile 29)

4Enlow Tunnel

The tall arched portal of the Enlow Tunnel beckons amid a backdrop of emerald green leaves and vines. Its straight bore allows an inviting glimpse of the world beyond. Not only is its 575-foot expanse fun to traverse, but the journey on either end is a treat as the trail winds through a scenic wooded valley here. (Near mile 7)

The Tandem Connection is just steps away from the Montour Trail. | Photo by David Poe, courtesy The Tandem Connection

5The Tandem Connection

Located just off the trail, The Tandem Connection not only offers a wide range of bikes for rent (including tandems, of course), but also serves as a friendly place to chat with other explorers over a cup of coffee in the morning or a barbeque sandwich for lunch. Oh, and Perry’s Ice Cream is also housed inside, too, with mysterious flavor combinations like Bittersweet Sinphony, Deep Sea Treasure and Fool’s Gold, which might require multiple tastings. And don’t forget to check out the gift shop if you want to take home a Montour Trail T-shirt as a souvenir of your adventure! (Mile 27)

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/march/31/top-5-attractions-on-the-montour-trail/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/march/31/top-5-attractions-on-the-montour-trail/Tue, 31 March 2015 13:07:06 Opening Day for Trails 2015: A Success!Katie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/march/31/opening-day-for-trails-2015-a-success/Walkers, runners, birdwatchers, bicyclists, horseback riders, nature lovers, history buffs…more than 17,000 people turned out across America this Saturday for Opening Day for Trails! Wow!

Do you want to know the reason why this year’s Opening Day went so well? First, our partners across the country hosted fantastic events that engaged their communities and introduced local residents to their trails. Secondly, we worked with remarkable sponsors, including REI, Fuji Bikes, Yakima Racks, Camelbak and Clif Bar, who supported us at every step in the road.

Layla Stark of Alexandria, Va., at Cameron Station Linear Park on Opening Day 2015 | Photo by Laura Stark

But what was the most integral element to the success of Opening Day? YOU, of course.

You fixed your bike up weeks in advance, packed up your kids, braved the elements and joined the celebration. And we can’t thank you enough! You showed how much Americans value their trails and how vital trails are to communities from coast to coast.

So, with the power vested in me, I officially deem this year’s Opening Day for Trails a gigantic success.

On or about March 23, 2015, Illinois Central Railroad Company filed for the abandonment of 3.2 miles of track between Bondville and Seymour in Champaign County, Illinois. We are providing this information because it presents an opportunity to develop a real regional asset: a multi-use trail that can accommodate hikers, bikers, equestrians and other appropriate uses.

NEXT STEPS: If this corridor is suitable for trail use, we strongly urge local trail advocates, or an appropriate local, regional or state agency or organization, to take action now. A “boiler plate” letter (found here) can be filed with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) and the abandoning railroad using STB docket number AB-43 (sub-no. 189x). Filing this letter does not commit its authors to acquire the corridor; it merely gives time to develop a rail-trail proposal and undertake negotiations with the railroad. According to the information we have received, the deadline for filing this letter is April 22, 2015. Even if this deadline is missed, there is probably still time to contact the relevant parties, since the railroad may have experienced a delay in filing all of the paperwork, or the STB may still have jurisdiction over the corridor. However, it is important to take prompt action. The STB posts all abandonment decisions and filings on its website, including the complete filing for this corridor. More information on the rail corridor, including a map, can be found in this filing, or view a clearer map of the approximate route here.

The STB has imposed a $300 filing fee for all railbanking requests. Entities filing a railbanking request may request a fee waiver or reduction, and government agencies will receive an automatic fee waiver. Throughout the process, make sure local government officials and citizen activists are kept informed of the project’s progress. We also recommend contacting your state trails coordinator or your state bicycle/pedestrian coordinator.

Both of these individuals are knowledgeable about state laws and resources and may be able to assist your community with this rail-trail project. Also, you may want to contact the abandoning railroad to add your name to their service list.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE: RTC’s website may provide valuable tools as you plan for a rail-trail, including how-to manuals, the Trail-Building Toolbox, our Resource Library and the Trails & Greenways Listserv for trail advocates and professionals. These resources can be found within the “Build Trails” section of our website. If you take advantage of this information and other resources promptly, you will be well on your way to creating a successful rail-trail in your community. For more information, or if you decide to pursue railbanking, please contact our Trail Development Department.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/march/30/notice-upcoming-railroad-abandonment-in-champaign-county-ill/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/march/30/notice-upcoming-railroad-abandonment-in-champaign-county-ill/Mon, 30 March 2015 15:53:38 Spring into Stewardship: Pittsburgh Residents Pitch In on Opening DayGreta Zukauskaitehttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/march/27/spring-into-stewardship-pittsburgh-residents-pitch-in-on-opening-day/ARE YOU READY FOR OPENING DAY FOR TRAILS?

On March 28, 2015—people around the nation will be getting out to celebrate their favorite pathways and kick off spring in honor of RTC’s third annual Opening Day for Trails. Visit our Opening Day website, and make your official pledge to hit a trail on March 28.

Nothing signifies a fresh start to spring like a little bit of spring cleaning! This year on Opening Day for Trails, Friends of the Riverfront and its volunteers are welcoming spring by engaging the community through stewardship events on Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers Heritage Trail.

Most of the trail’s segments run along the banks of one of Pittsburgh’s most famous geographic features: the confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers. In fact, it is the meeting of these rivers that made Pittsburgh a pivotal commercial and transportation center, beginning in the 1700s. The city has transformed from a mining town to a modern city known for its parks, gardens and, of course, trails along the rivers.

On the South Side Trail in Pittsburgh | Photo courtesy Friends of the Riverfront

Today, people of all ages and physical abilities use the trails year-round to exercise, meet up with friends and loved ones and simply enjoy the outdoors. Those who enjoy the trail and its variety of uses understand the importance of maintaining and monitoring its upkeep.

It is no surprise, then, that an organization like Friends of the Riverfront is leading the activities for Opening Day on March 28. This organization was instrumental in building and maintaining the 24-mile-long system through engagement with the community, regional government and a vast volunteer base. It is now this core group that protects and preserves the trails throughout the year for everyone to enjoy.

Opening Day in Pittsburgh will kick off with a two-hour clean-up and native species tree planting along a breathtaking section of trail in the South Side. Volunteers, including PENNDOT engineers, will join trail enthusiasts for a few hours of work, followed by a guided bike tour at noon. The events will wrap up with complimentary pizza in the afternoon.

“This day has a significant meaning and purpose,” says Jeffrey McCauley, the stewardship coordinator for Friends of the Riverfront.

(Jeff is right! People all across the country will hit the trails on the same day to participate in activities that bring their communities together.)

He adds, “This event will have a good impact and allow people who may not be familiar with our organization to see what it’s about and what the people involved do. The impact will be felt through the participants’ cleanup efforts and the planting of native species of trees.”

People who enjoy stewardship activities will be ecstatic to hear that REI will be at the event to speak about how they team up with Friends of the Riverfront every Earth Day to host a large volunteer cleanup in the area. (FYI, Friends of the Riverfront also hosts more than 50 other events annually, so there are multiple ways to get involved.)

Volunteers are a big part of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail and trails all across the country. In order for such a large system of trails to work, people who enjoy using the Three Rivers Heritage Trail must understand the importance of taking care of it.

Whether it’s cleaning up the trails after a long winter or planting native shrubs and trees to keep the paths in good shape, no effort goes unnoticed in Pittsburgh.

Learn more about the event in Pittsburgh, and other events across the nation, on RTC’s Opening Day for Trails partner events page. We hope you’ll pledge to get outside on Opening Day!

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/march/27/spring-into-stewardship-pittsburgh-residents-pitch-in-on-opening-day/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/march/27/spring-into-stewardship-pittsburgh-residents-pitch-in-on-opening-day/Fri, 27 March 2015 12:24:59 A Moment on the Trail, A Lifetime of HappinessAmy Kapphttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/march/18/a-moment-on-the-trail-a-lifetime-of-happiness/Sometimes, it only takes one moment on a trail to change our lives forever. Just ask Ali and Tyler Sloan, who experienced an unforgettable, life-altering moment on Aug. 20, 2013, when, after several years of dating, Tyler proposed to Ali on the High Trestle Trail in Iowa (and she said yes!).

“It was a moment I will never forget, with a beautiful backdrop,” says Ali.

According to Ali, she and Tyler, who live and work in Des Moines and who are 27 and 29 respectively, had planned to ride the High Trestle Trail since diving into biking several years ago. So when Tyler called her at work and asked if she’d like to go with his brother and a few mutual friends later that evening, she agreed. And that was that.

Until they made the trip, that is, and Tyler surprised her with a question of a lifetime.

The 25-mile High Trestle Trail is named for a revamped, 2,530-foot bridge rising 13 stories above the Des Moines River Valley between Madrid and Woodward. Arching over the bridge decking are 43 steel “cribbings” lined with LED lights that come on at night, creating a sensation of moving through a mine shaft—and honoring the region’s coal-mining heritage. And of course, both the lights and the view of the valley are sights to behold.

“The first time seeing the bridge and view was breathtaking,” says Ali. “He timed our arrival perfectly, and when the bridge lit up, he asked his brother to take a picture of us underneath the lights. The next thing I know, Tyler got down on his knee and asked me to marry him. I was completely shocked, as you can tell in the reaction of our photo. That is a genuine photo, not a re-enactment!”

“I chose [the trail] because it is a one-of-a-kind location,” says Tyler. “Also, I wanted to get a photo of the special moment, and it was a perfect place to capture that. I knew that Ali wouldn’t expect me to propose that night, and it would take her by surprise.”

He continues, “I was so nervous the whole bike ride, I kept looking down and feeling inside my pocket to make sure the ring was still there!”

The Sloans, who were married on Sept. 27, 2014, still visit their favorite trail whenever they can. And they look forward to a time when they can share the trail—and the memories of that day—with their own family.

“We will always look back and cherish the rail-trail because that’s where the journey of our marriage started,” says Ali. “The trail and the view are absolutely beautiful; it’s a really unique place here in Iowa.”

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/march/18/a-moment-on-the-trail-a-lifetime-of-happiness/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/march/18/a-moment-on-the-trail-a-lifetime-of-happiness/Wed, 18 March 2015 18:43:26 Will a Limestone Quarry Disrupt a Celebrated Wisconsin Rail-Trail?Leeann Sinpatanasakulhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/march/18/will-a-limestone-quarry-disrupt-a-celebrated-wisconsin-rail-trail/On Monday, March 16, 2015, officials in Monroe County, Wis., voted to approve a limestone quarry near the Elroy-Sparta State Trail in Wilton, despite more than 380 Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and Wisconsin Bike Fed supporters who sent messages to officials in opposition of this project. The quarry, situated a stone’s throw from the trail, would significantly (negatively) impact local tourism revenue as well as the safety of trail users.

“Last night, a Monroe County committee voted to approve an open-pit gravel mine on the Elroy-Sparta Trail along Logan Road in the Town of Wilton. But a lawsuit has been filed, and the project’s future is still somewhat in doubt.

The Sanitation, Planning and Zoning, and Dog Control Committee voted to approve a conditional use permit for the road building company Mathy Construction after an intense, but respectful, public hearing attended by about 70 people, most of them opposed to the mine. During the public hearing, 24 people spoke, with four in favor and 20 opposed.”

Check out the blog link below for the full story. RTC will continue to monitor this issue for new developments.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/march/18/will-a-limestone-quarry-disrupt-a-celebrated-wisconsin-rail-trail/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/march/18/will-a-limestone-quarry-disrupt-a-celebrated-wisconsin-rail-trail/Wed, 18 March 2015 18:00:26 San Francisco Bay Trail: Environmental Icon, Public AssetKatie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/march/18/san-francisco-bay-trail-environmental-icon-public-asset/ARE YOU READY FOR OPENING DAY FOR TRAILS?

On March 28, 2015—people around the nation will be getting out to celebrate their favorite pathways and kick off spring in honor of RTC’s third annual Opening Day for Trails. Visit our Opening Day website, and make your official pledge to hit a trail on March 28.

Public access. It’s the underlying current of many of the environmental battles fought in the state of California, and the San Francisco Bay Area is no exception. In fact, it is a region that has been at the center of various environmental and public access struggles over the decades.

There is an icon that, in many ways, is an actualization of a better future, a tangible result of the hard-fought battles for access that define California’s environmental history: Enter the Bay Trail.

Initiated in 1987 (but informed by the environmental battles that proceeded it), the Bay Trail Plan is a vision for a continuous pathway for bicycling and walking that would trace the entire San Francisco Bay shoreline. Although there were many visionaries, Bill Lockyer, a state senator at the time, is often credited as the main mover and shaker during the Bay Trail’s inception. Lockyer authored Senate Bill 100, which laid the framework for the system and directed the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) to administer the system’s build-out. ABAG adopted the Bay Trail Plan in 1989, and the San Francisco Bay Trail Project was created to oversee the planning and development of the 500-mile Bay Trail system.

“Public access is a very important element to the Bay Trail,” says Barry Bergman, trail development manager for RTC’s Western Regional Office, adding that any project within 100 feet of the shoreline has to build a trail.

He continues, “The entire region sees the trail as a major priority. It’s not just a place to recreate, it’s also a transportation network and a key component to maintaining public access to the Bay.”

And people of all ages, sizes, ethnicities, fitness levels and socioeconomic statuses are hitting the trail daily.

“There is no single group that uses the Bay Trail,” says Lee Chien Huo, Bay Trail planner for ABAG. "The trail system was designed to be used by the broadest groups of people, and that’s really what we’re seeing. People are using it to get healthy, they’re using it for recreation, and they’re using it to get where they need to go.”

Bergman echoes that sentiment. Everybody uses the trail, he says—and for good reason. “The Bay Trail connects communities, offers spectacular views and provides access to the Bay,” he explains. “It is a true asset to the community.”

What began a half-century ago as a movement to reclaim the Bay and shoreline for the public is still strong today as the Bay Trail embodies the spirit of the impassioned push for access that informed and inspired the trail system’s inception. With 340 miles completed and 160 miles to go, the Bay Trail is filling the gaps and connecting a region. While there are still some unknowns in the trail development process, there is one absolute: Public access will be preserved.

1Pop the Corks (Mich.)

There’s reason to celebrate in Michigan; the 92-mile White Pine Trail—20 years in the making—should be completed as the state’s second-longest rail-trail by the end of 2015. By then, the corridor’s remaining 40 miles of ballast, gravel or grass will be cleared away and replaced with crushed limestone. As the remaining miles had previously been paved with asphalt, the new surface will allow people to travel the entire length from Grand Rapids to Cadillac on any type of bike.

2First Project (Mich.)

Elsewhere in Michigan, preparations are beginning in the Saginaw Bay area for an 8.5-mile hiking and biking trail linking Gladwin and Beaverton. Gladwin County recently formed a recreation authority to build trails that will serve local communities as well as connect to the wider trail network. The Gladwin-Beaverton trail, for instance, will eventually head south to hook up with the Pere Marquette Rail-Trail that rolls east-west for 88 miles from Midland to Baldwin.

3Good Tidings for Badlands (S.D.)

The West River Trail Coalition in Rapid City says that converting a 100-mile railbanked railroad bed into a hiking and biking trail to the Buffalo Gap National Grassland and Badlands National Park is a good thing. The first short segment of the Mako Sico Trail—mako sico means “land bad” in the Lakota language—will begin construction within the city limits in 2016. The $20 million price tag and opposition from ranchers along the corridor could delay further progress for years. Supporters point to the success of the nearby 109-mile Mickelson Trail as a reason to press ahead.

4Eagle Eyes on the Trail (Wash.)

People who indulge their pastime of watching birds—big, big birds—flock to the Klickitat Trail near Lyle every winter to view bald eagles that gather from across the Pacific Northwest. As many as 60 bald eagles have been seen from the trail at the lower end of the Klickitat River, near its confluence with the Columbia River. Biologists say the bald eagles arrive in December to feast on salmon and waterfowl and are gone by March.

6Step-by-Step (Mass.)

The piece-by-piece construction of the Upper Charles Trail is moving ahead. Now stretching about 11 miles from Holliston to Milford, the trail will one day extend an additional eight or nine miles. The Upper Charles Rail Trail Committee has hired a landscape design outfit to find a route through Hopkinton to connect Milford with Ashland. A 0.6-mile trail segment opened in Hopkinton in October, but much of the remaining rail bed is in private hands.

7Corralling Bikes in Brownsville (Texas)

Given the ranching heritage of South Texas, it’s no surprise to hear that downtown Brownsville has unveiled a corral. This one is for bicycles, however, and 14 of them can fit in the space of one parked car. The city installed the rack after local bicycle advocate Fernando Martinez noticed that grocery store customers didn’t have anywhere to lock up their bikes. He’s also responsible for improvements along the Historic Battlefield Trail, which rolls from downtown to Palo Alto National Battlefield Historic Park.

9Cave Exploring (Ken.)

The four counties around Mammoth Cave National Park in western Kentucky boast a number of trails—among them the Mammoth Cave Railroad Bike & Hike Trail, the Barren River Lake Trail and a trail network in Bowling Green. Now officials in the region want to connect those trails to draw more tourists to the area and promote a more physically fit lifestyle among locals. Several dozen of them met last month to learn how to win state and federal funding for the hiking and biking plan. The first step will be the formation of a Cave Region Trail Planning Initiative.

10Freedom to Bike (Pa.)

If the Bicycle Coalition of Philadelphia gets it way, the spin at the Democratic National Convention in 2016 won’t just be happening on the convention floor. The coalition is suggesting the city bump up three bike-friendly infrastructure projects already on the books so delegates can safely spin their wheels around town next summer. The coalition says the projects, including a protected bike lane, neighborhood bikeway and multi-use side path, could deliver politicos to the front door of the Wells Fargo Center and “show the world that the city cares about its citizens’ and visitors’ safety.”

“The Montour Trail has a huge volunteer base that does everything from A to Z ... They do incredible work and take everything to the next level.”

In terms of rail-trail mileage, Pennsylvania dominates, but in a crowded field, the Montour Trail—which forms a 55-mile arc around western Pittsburgh—is a standout with plenty of “wow” moments. Covering such a vast distance, the crushed-limestone path is expectedly diverse winding through both rural Washington County and the more lively Allegheny County (which is second only to Philadelphia County in terms of population). Whatever you’re looking for in a trail, it’s here: dozens of picturesque bridges (though the nearly 1,000-foot-long McDonald Viaduct steals the show), three railroad tunnels that beckon cool and inviting in the summer, remote woodlands and rolling farmlands, welcoming small towns and big-city connections.

Montour Trail Volunteers pose for a photo after completing decking installation on a bridge in South Park | Photo by David Oyler

Perhaps what sets it apart most, though, is what you don’t see. The rail-trail was created and continues to grow and thrive through the stalwart efforts of a nonprofit called the Montour Trail Council (MTC). It’s estimated that their volunteers donate more than 15,000 hours annually to build and maintain the trail.

“The Montour Trail has a huge volunteer base that does everything from A to Z,” says Tom Sexton, northeast regional director for Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC). “I think it’s the best all-volunteer-managed trail in the United States. They do incredible work and take everything to the next level.”

The organization started with two friends, Stan Sattinger and Dino Angelici—one an engineer and the other a dentist—two ordinary men with extraordinary vision. In 1989, they gathered a core group of 15 people to discuss plans for the recently abandoned Montour Railroad, which dated back to 1877 and was originally used to haul coal. They raised public and private money to acquire the right-of-way, obtained the support of Allegheny County and other government entities, and brought awareness of the project to the community through public meetings and a bimonthly newsletter.

It's common to see deer on the Montour Trail especially near dusk. | Photo by Deb Thompson

Their first success was the completion of a 4.5-mile segment in Cecil Township, which opened in 1992. Fueled by a passion for trails and pizza—Burg’s Pizza and Wings Restaurant, located just down the street from MTC headquarters, has been a longtime supporter—more segments followed.

During one of those early meetings, a new volunteer, Frank Ludwin, said he saw an old dump truck for sale that he, a welder and heavy equipment operator, could fix up for use on the trail. It was the first piece of trail-building equipment the group bought. Under his leadership, a grader, a roller, trackers and backhoes followed, enabling the group to physically build the trail themselves, except for more complicated structures, such as bridges, for which professional hired help was needed. Frank loved the trail and labored on it up until the week he passed away last December at the age of 81.

This can-do attitude of its volunteers, coupled with an open door for anyone that wants to help, is what makes MTC so special. “Even if you don’t have specific skills, there are things you can do, like handing out water at a running event for fundraising,” says Paul McKeown, secretary of MTC’s engineering and construction committee. “We have all kinds of people doing all kinds of things.”

Volunteers installing a crushed limestone surface on the Montour Trail in South Park Township. | Photo courtesy Montour Trail Council

Although the group met some initial resistance to the project, a smart construction strategy nipped negativity in the bud. “We started in areas where we had lots of support and built the trail there,” says McKeown. “We went for the low-hanging fruit, and then those opposed would say, ‘Wow, that looks good. When are you coming to our neighborhood?’”

With a shoestring budget, the effort started out with “little pieces, and then we got to bigger and bigger pieces,” says McKeown. First built in one-to-five-mile sections, the project has now grown to include such “bigger pieces” as the $2.2 million renovation of the Library Viaduct, which spans 500 feet across a stream and light rail tracks, and the construction of a $1.3 million bridge over Valley Brook Road. The group plans to utilize Transportation Enhancement funds for the projects, and both are anticipated to be completed this year (the former in April and the latter by fall).

“We’re spending more money on our current projects than at any time in our history,” adds McKeown. “To have two projects like that going on at one time is pretty big. It shows just how far we’ve matured as an organization.”

Greer Tunnel | Photo by David Poe, courtesy The Tandem Connection

The impact of the improvements in these areas, which are currently on-road connections, will be huge. “Coming up to the Library Viaduct is where you’ll meet all of your challenges as a cyclist because you’re coming onto on-road riding,” says McKeown. “For the Library Viaduct in particular, the road—State Route 88—was busy and has a narrow shoulder. A lot of people would get to that point and just go back. It requires a confident cyclist to do it.”

David Poe, co-owner of The Tandem Connection, knows firsthand just how important those connections are. With his wife and another couple, he opened the bicycle rental and repair shop near mile marker 27 on the Montour Trail in 2013. The shop, housed in a century-old building (once a mining company store), had been unsuccessfully occupied by similar businesses before.

“No one could use the building because it was built on an island. The connections just weren’t there yet; you had to cross busy roads,” says Poe of the former gaps in the trail on either side of the building. “My wife and I are big runners. When we’d run to this spot, we’d go the other direction, too. It was not really viable for anything.”

The Tandem Connection is just off the Montour Trail | Photo by David Poe, courtesy The Tandem Connection

All that changed a few years ago, when a pair of trail bridges were constructed that created a continuous off-road trail in that area. For Poe, an entrepreneur, “a light bulb went off.” By any measure, The Tandem Connection has been a success and, just steps from the pathway, a friendly and welcome stop for trail users. The establishment includes a barbeque café (its pulled pork sandwiches have a rabid following), ice cream parlor, coffee bar and small gift shop. In the winter, the shop is cozy with two fireplaces ablaze and fat tire bikes and cross-country skis available to tackle the snow.

Centrally located on the trail, it’s also a prime spot for the more adventurous to begin their journeys. Head west from there, and the Montour Trail meets the Panhandle Trail, another beautiful trek, especially with springtime wildflowers, which stretches 29 miles and extends into West Virginia. Riders going east from the shop can connect to the famed Great Allegheny Passage (GAP), spanning 150 miles from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Cumberland, Maryland.

The trail's stunning McDonald Bridge | Photo by Laura Libert

With this abundant connectivity, the Montour Trail was a natural fit for RTC’s Pennsylvania Rail-Trail Sojourn. Those wanting to take a guided group tour of both the Montour Trail and the GAP can register online for the trip, which will take place this June 21-26.

Going strong for 25 years, the Montour Trail has proved its merits from its littlest rider on a set of training wheels to top government officials. “There’s a lot of political support for the trail, and [the support] is bipartisan,” says Dave Wright, an engineer and project manager for Allegheny County. “They may argue about a lot of stuff, but the trail is something everyone can agree on.”

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/march/16/pennsylvanias-montour-trail/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/march/16/pennsylvanias-montour-trail/Mon, 16 March 2015 14:38:32 Top 10 Attractions on the Mon River Trails (Sojourner's Guide)Laura Starkhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/march/09/top-10-attractions-on-the-mon-river-trails-sojourners-guide/Writing the “Trail of the Month” feature presents an eternal struggle: what to include and what to leave out? Each month, we choose an exemplary trail jam-packed with amazing sights and fun things to explore. As narrowing down the unique experiences on February’s designee—West Virginia’s Mon River Trails—was especially challenging, we’re presenting you with a bonus top 10 list of great attractions (in no particular order) that you will find along this spectacular trail system spanning nearly 50 miles around Morgantown. But you don’t have to take our word for it; this April 24-26, check out the trails firsthand on our first-ever West Virginia Rail-Trail Sojourn; registration is now open!

1West Virginia University

Perhaps no institution is more synonymous with Morgantown than West Virginia University (WVU). The Caperton Trail goes through one of the campus’s prettiest spots and beneath one of its most unique attractions. Riding through the Earl L. Core Arboretum is an elven experience of woodlands and wildflowers maintained by the university’s biology department. Exiting the arboretum on its eastern end is where you’ll catch your first glimpse of WVU’s Personal Rapid Transit system, which opened in 1975 and is an innovation found nowhere else in the country. The elevated tracks whisk small cars—designed to hold a maximum of 20 students each—from one end of campus to the other and to downtown.

2Edith Barill Riverfront Park

The Edith Barill Riverfront Park offers a fine stop for a trailside picnic with its sweeping views of the Monongahela River against a backdrop of lush green hills. The park also houses the John F. Kennedy Memorial with a statue of a young JFK Jr. saluting a bronze relief of his father and a quote from the late president: “Children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.” At adjacent Tugboat Depot Playground, little ones will be wowed by the climbable castle and enjoy a plethora of other fun play structures, including a tree house, tire swing and sandbox.

Meredith Tunnel | Photo by Timothy Dicke

3Meredith Tunnel

At its southern end, the Mon River Trail South connects to the short but no less worthwhile Marion County Trail, whose big attraction is the stunning Meredith Tunnel. Built in 1914, the structure stretches 1,200 feet and is well lighted for exploring.

4Brewing Companies

If biking the Mon River Trails works up a thirst—and an appetite—you’re in luck. Two popular brewing companies are located just off the Caperton Trail: Mountain State Brewing and Morgantown Brewing. Both offer local favorites, with names like Almost Heaven Amber Ale and Coal City Stout, as well as hearty fare. And, if craft beer isn’t your thing, the beauty of this trail is that it goes right through downtown Morgantown with a wealth of dining options.

Hazel Ruby McQuain Riverfront Park | Photo by Daniel Boyd

5Hazel Ruby McQuain Riverfront Park

The star of Hazel Ruby McQuain Riverfront Park is its stylish amphitheater, especially popular during the summer months for outdoor concerts and performances. Directly across from it sits a single-story, red brick depot dating back to 1886 that now serves buses rather than trains. Inside is also a visitor center, where explores can pick up trail maps. In another nod to the city’s history, a mural near the intersection of the Caperton and Deckers Creek trails pays homage to the railroads on which the trails were built.

6Monongahela River Dams

The Monongahela River, which stretches 128 miles from Pittsburgh to Fairmont, W.Va., is a pleasant companion for much of Morgantown’s rail-trail system. Along the way, a series of massive locks and dams that support navigation on the waterway are definitely photo worthy. Just south of the downtown core, you can view the Morgantown Lock and Dam from the Caperton Trail. From the Mon River Trail South, two more locks and dams—dubbed Hildebrand and Opekiska—are also visible.

Bretz Coke Ovens | Photo by Michael Delardas

7Bretz Coke Ovens

An unusual attraction can be seen from the Deckers Creek Trail near the community of Bretz. Across the creek, you’ll see a row of abandoned, beehive-shaped brick ovens, which were once used to roast locally mined coal into coke, a product used in the steel industry. Today, the Bretz Coke Ovens are listed as a National Historic Landmark.

9Prickett’s Fort State Park

The Mon River Trail South ends with a bang at Prickett’s Fort State Park, a reconstructed frontier outpost originally located here in 1774. Pass through its gates and enter a world of 18th-century life; see blacksmiths, weavers, other craftsmen and pioneers plying their trades, cooking, sewing, harvesting their gardens and moving about the busy historical village.

10Seneca Center

With its idyllic access to both the Monongahela River and the railroad, the Seneca Glass Factory thrived in Morgantown when it was founded here in the 1890s. Nearly a century later, the once viable business was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and its buildings, now known as Seneca Center, became a collection of specialty shops. With its brick walls and wooden floors, its original character is retained, and throughout the retail complex you’ll find displays on how glass and glassware were made in its factories. Above it all, a historical red water tower and 100-foot-high glass furnace chimney still stand as distinctive city landmarks.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/march/09/top-10-attractions-on-the-mon-river-trails-sojourners-guide/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/march/09/top-10-attractions-on-the-mon-river-trails-sojourners-guide/Mon, 09 March 2015 18:55:12 The Time Is Right for Trails in Indy (New Hours, New Opportunities)Katie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/march/09/the-time-is-right-for-trails-in-indy-new-hours-new-opportunities/Opening Day for Trails is right around the corner!

On March 28, 2015—people around the nation will be getting out to celebrate their favorite pathways and kick off spring in honor of RTC’s third annual Opening Day for Trails. Visit our Opening Day website, and make your official pledge to hit a trail on March 28.

As we lead up to Opening Day, we’re pleased to highlight another great example of a community doing great work on the ground to make their trails great places to walk and bike.

Indianapolis, Ind., is home to an Opening Day for Trails event this year! Learn how you can get involved.

Spring is a time of transition, longer days and, for many of us, enjoying that glorious sunshine we’ve been deprived of for the last few months!

During this great gateway into long and sumptuous summer evenings—we put that winter riding gear away piece by piece, replacing our gloves and bulky scarves with T-shirts, trail picnics, gentle sunsets…and eventually tank tops and sunscreen.

Indy Cultural Trail | Photo courtesy Indianapolis Cultural Trail Inc.

In Indianapolis, however, the change in seasons comes with another change for trail systems around the city: extended hours for trail use! In the past, trails have been open from dusk to dawn, but thanks to the hard work of trail advocates, hours have been extended from 5 a.m. to midnight. Awesome.

Now, biking and walking will be viable transportation options in the early morning hours and in the evenings—elevating active transportation as a commuting choice for residents and visitors.

And there’s more…according to trail advocates, the ultimate goal is to see trails in the region open 24/7 (that’s 24 hours a day, seven days a week!)

Connie Szabo Schmucker, advocacy director at Bicycle Garage Indy, points out: People who use trails as commuting corridors benefit immensely from the separate infrastructure. But if the trails are closed when they need them—the infrastructure loses its value.

“Drivers are not told that they cannot use the roads at night,” says Szabo Schmucker. “Why should people who use bicycles as their main form of transportation be asked to use different infrastructure simply based on time of day?”

On the Monon Trail | Photo by Robert Annis

“If they are using trails as their main transportation corridors, what are the options for those with less traditional work schedules?” asks Leslie Gordon, director of communications for Indy Parks and Recreation. She adds that some commuters in Indianapolis want to use the trails before 5 a.m. on a daily basis, and some leave work after the midnight trail closures. These individuals are forced to choose a back-up option that makes them less comfortable, such as on-road cycling. Meanwhile, the infrastructure specifically built for biking and walking remains empty.

Gordon believes the benefits of 24-hour trail use will be extremely beneficial not just for riders, but for people who live along the trail as well. With more eyes on the trails at different parts of the day, the corridors will remain safe places for all users.

There is an “aura of connectivity” that permeates Indianapolis, and as the city’s infrastructure continues to improve, access to that infrastructure is on the minds of many decision-makers. With the support of local and regional government, community members and adjacent landowners, Gordon hopes residents in the Indianapolis region will be able to use the infrastructure not just when the clock is “right,” but when they actually need it.

“This time change has been a long time in the making, and it really is the best practice,” she says. “[People] feel safer on the trails as compared to roads, so why shouldn’t the infrastructure be available? We want to make sure we have the best policies out there for them.”

1You’ll ride in the footsteps (literally) of one of America’s greatest founding fathers.

According to “An Uncommon Passage: Traveling through History on the Great Allegheny Passage Trail” by Edward K. Muller and Paul g. Wiegman…during the Seven Years’ War, a 22-year-old George Washington, then lieutenant colonel/deputy commander of England’s Virginia Regiment, helped clear what became known as Braddock’s Road—a route over difficult terrain connecting Fort Cumberland in Maryland to the Ohio River in present-day Pittsburgh, Pa. (to attempt to defeat the French at Fort Duquesne). This road now makes up a portion of the GAP.

2You'll get to use a portable shower truck.

Each night, RTC brings in a portable shower truck where you can refresh after a long day’s ride. This is cool mainly because many of us have never used a portable shower truck before. (Or have you?) NOTE: Bring flip flops.

3Fallingwater.

This magnificent homestead in Mill Run, Pa., is a “site” to see. Completed in 1939 by America’s most famous architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, for the Kaufmann family (of department store fame), this National Historic Landmark stretches out over a 30-foot waterfall.

4You’ll cross two hugely important boundary lines.

The first is the Mason-Dixon Line—surveyed by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon between 1763 and 1767. In addition to settling a long-standing Pennsylvania vs. Maryland colonial boundary dispute, the line represented freedom for tens of thousands of people escaping slavery in the south in the first half of the 1800s.

The second is the Eastern Continental Divide (ECD) (which began forming hundreds of millions of years ago), a ridge line that runs from Pennsylvania to Florida and demarcates the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Seaboard watersheds of the Atlantic Ocean. In the 1700s, the ECD also represented the boundary between British and French colonial possessions.

2014 sojourn ice cream break | Photo by Cleo Fogal

5You’ll eat lots of treats. Like ice cream.

Of course, nobody’s going to force you. But if you like to eat ice cream and/or many other similar treats…there are numerous opportunities to do so on the sojourn. (RTC’s Katie Harris, who went on the 2014 sojourn, says she had ice cream an estimated five times, maybe six, FYI.)

6A train ride is involved.

How cool is this: You can (optionally) take in the first part of the sojourn (Cumberland to Frostburg) by steam train—via the restored Western Maryland Railway Station, the last remaining building linked to Cumberland’s railroad heyday.

7The GAP runs past the sites of two of America’s most notorious labor battles.

These are: 1) the “Battle of Buena Vista,” a bloody gun battle between striking coal miners and imported strikebreakers of the Armstrong Coal Works, which occurred in Elizabeth Township, Pa., on Nov. 29, 1874; and 2) the infamous incident during the Homestead Strike of 1892, in which thousands of striking steelworkers (plus families, supporters, etc.) from the Carnegie Steel Co. confronted 300 Pinkerton guards at the now “Historic Pump House.” (This year's sojourn will pass by the first site!)

2014 sojourn whitewater rafting excursion | Photo by Cleo Fogal

8There will be rafting (and also relaxing).

Day 3 of the sojourn is a layover day in Dunbar, and as part of the fun, you can choose between a whitewater rafting trip on the Lower Youghiogheny River (minimum age 12) or a canoe float down the Bottom Yough from Dawson to Layton. But if you prefer, you can also just relax in Dunbar or explore Connellsville, too! The choice is yours.

9There are some pretty awesome tunnels and bridges.

Along the GAP you’ll find the 3,294.6-foot-long Big Savage Tunnel; the 101-foot-high Salisbury Viaduct; the Pinkerton High Bridge over the Casselman River; and the Tree Tunnels (they’re literally interlocking tree branches) between Confluence and Ohiopyle. And then there’s the Montour Trail with the Greer Tunnel, Chartiers Creek High Bridge (beautiful vistas), the 500-foot Enlow Tunnel, the curved (lighted) National Tunnel and the 1,000-foot-long McDonald Viaduct. And those are just the highlights.

2014 Pennsylvania sojourn | Photo by Cleo Fogal

10You’re basically going on the coolest all-ages summer camp ever.

Imagine 300 people of all ages and abilities—who love trails—converging for six days, biking and seeing the sites, doing fun activities, eating meals together, helping one another, enjoying each other’s comradery in the evenings, cooking s’mores on a fire…and then camping out under the stars.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/march/04/10-cool-things-to-know-about-the-pennsylvania-rail-trail-sojourn/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/march/04/10-cool-things-to-know-about-the-pennsylvania-rail-trail-sojourn/Wed, 04 March 2015 15:33:31 Opening Day Feature: We'll Be Seeing More of Baltimore—By TrailKatie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/march/03/opening-day-feature-well-be-seeing-more-of-baltimore-by-trail/Opening Day is Less than one Month Away!

On March 28, 2015—people around the nation will be getting out to celebrate their favorite pathways and kick off spring in honor of RTC’s third annual Opening Day for Trails. Eighteen communities around the country are hosting official Opening Day events this year in partnership with RTC, and in the lead up to March 28, we'll bring you some of their awesome stories.

Oh, by the way, you don't have to attend an official event to be a part of Opening Day. Be a part of it; make your pledge to hit a trail on Opening Day.

Did you know that Baltimore lays claim to some of the oldest urban parks in the country?

Three distinct stream valleys serve as home to the Gwynns Falls, Jones Falls and Herring Run trails, which meander through the city. And within these corridors, you’ll find some of the largest urban forests east of the Mississippi!

These urban forests provide a welcome respite from city life. In the early 1800s, the stream valleys powered the grist mills that fueled Baltimore’s growing economies. What is now Leakin Park—Baltimore’s largest park, through which Gwynns Falls runs—was once a hunting ground and rustic retreat for city dwellers.

Many decades later, it remains a natural escape for the citizens of Baltimore, facilitated even more so by the urban trail that was completed in 2004. Shortly after, the Jones Falls Trail, which runs through the central stream valley of Baltimore, went from vision to reality and now runs more than nine miles north-south through the heart of Charm City.

Jim Brown, trail development manager for RTC, explains that the Jones Falls Trail is a great example of the many personalities of Baltimore. From industrial mill complexes to more rural-like countryside, the Jones Falls Trail has a bit of everything—and arguably showcases the best of Baltimore.

Trail users have the chance to stand beneath a barreling freight train as the trail crosses underneath an active CSX line. Just a short distance away, the train noise is abandoned for the peaceful quiet of a Maryland forest. Further still, the clinks and bells of the light rail join the soundscape.

Along the Jones Falls Trail in Baltimore, Md. | Photo by Jeff La Noue

It’s that variation that makes the Jones Falls Trail, and all the trails in Baltimore, so unique. “On parts of these trails, you’d never know that you were in Baltimore,” says Brown. “[Jones Falls Trail] is both a commuting corridor and an escape from the city, and it is designed into the fabric of the neighborhoods,” he says.

Whether you want to get from your house to downtown, or want to escape downtown and get into the woods, the Jones Falls Trail gets you there.

But Baltimore’s story is just beginning to unfold, and as the city begins to redefine itself, these corridors are gaining more attention in discussions about what the city can become.

Along with cities like Pittsburgh and Cleveland, Baltimore is experiencing an economic and cultural renaissance—and an integral part of a reimagined Baltimore will be a world-class trail system. As active transportation and livable communities become increasingly important factors for attracting and retaining talent, major businesses and corporations that call Baltimore home are also realizing the significance of an active-transportation system that combines green infrastructure, recreation and accessibility for all residents.

While the trails in the three stream valleys serve some of Baltimore’s trail needs, the trail system is not complete. Arguably the most prominent issue with Baltimore’s trail system is that there are no east-west connections. The vision for Baltimore is to fills those gaps, connect to transit and larger regional trail systems and get people where they need to go.

RTC is working with local partners, including community organizations, the nonprofit sector and public agencies on this incredible opportunity to leverage the Gwynns Falls, Jones Falls and Herring Run trails and construct new trail connections that, when transformed into a continuous route, will create a 30-mile loop encompassing Baltimore’s downtown and linking its many unique neighborhoods to the north, west, south and east.

The network will connect the city’s most popular destinations, including universities, hospitals, museums, parks, waterfronts, employment centers and transit with the communities they serve. At the same time, it will fuel the economic renaissance that is spurring the revitalization of Baltimore.

It’s a vision for an active-transportation system that addresses the needs of a city that is quickly redefining itself.

As Charm City comes into a new era, it’s no surprise that trails are an integral part of the equation. We watch with optimism as Baltimore comes into its own and embraces a new era of trail development.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/march/03/opening-day-feature-well-be-seeing-more-of-baltimore-by-trail/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/march/03/opening-day-feature-well-be-seeing-more-of-baltimore-by-trail/Tue, 03 March 2015 13:48:49 Opening Day Is Less Than One Month Away! (Are You Ready?)Katie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/march/03/opening-day-is-less-than-one-month-away-are-you-ready/Is it springtime yet?

It will be soon…and that means it’s time to get ready for Opening Day—for trails, that is!

On March 28, 2015—people around the nation will be getting out to celebrate their favorite pathways and kick off spring in honor of RTC’s third annual Opening Day for Trails. Visit our Opening Day website, and make your official pledge to hit a trail on March 28.

(We understand that some of you will still have cold weather in late March, but we’re confident that you’re tough enough to join in on the festivities anyway!)

Here’s an exciting piece of news: This year, in partnership with RTC, 18 communities are hosting Opening Day events. And in the lead up to March 28, we’ll bring you stories from some of these local hosts. The strength of the trail movement is building because of folks on the ground doing great work on trails and trail networks in their communities. Check our blog over the next month as we share some of their stories.

FYI: While we’re super thrilled that trail groups are celebrating with us this year, please note: You don’t need to attend an official event to take part in Opening Day festivities. Just hitting the trail is enough!

Opening Day Feature: We’ll Be Seeing More of Baltimore—By Trail

Did you know that Baltimore lays claim to some of the oldest urban parks in the country?

Three distinct stream valleys serve as home to the Gwynns Falls, Jones Falls and Herring Run trails, which meander through the city. And within these corridors, you’ll find some of the largest urban forests east of the Mississippi!

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/march/03/opening-day-is-less-than-one-month-away-are-you-ready/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/march/03/opening-day-is-less-than-one-month-away-are-you-ready/Tue, 03 March 2015 13:07:54 No Excuses! How a Tenacious 66-Year-Old Achieved His 5,458-Mile Cycling GoalDavid Ira Kaganhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/february/23/no-excuses-how-a-tenacious-66-year-old-achieved-his-5-458-mile-cycling-goal/With the New Year just past us and Heart Month (February) upon us, we thought this post by contributor David Ira Kagan was very appropriate.

For some of us, the cold reality of winter is enough to stop us in our tracks…curtailing our grand plans to get out on the trail and be more physically active. But not so for Kagan, who, despite numerous health issues and some sporadic East Coast weather—managed to achieve his 2014 biking goal of 5,458 miles.

And as you’ll learn in this blog, there were lots of challenges…and lots of rewards.

I did it. I met my goal for the year.

On Dec. 22, 2014, I completed a 12-mile bicycle ride—a final excursion that brought my mileage for the year to 5,458, one more mile than I pedaled back in 2010.

Pine Creek Rail Trail | Photo by David Ira Kagan

On this very cold and windy outing—I cycled the final 12 miles on the Pine Creek Rail Trail, which is readily accessible from my home in Torbert Village a few miles above the Jersey Shore. I went north six miles to a bench between the villages of Ramsey and Waterville before turning around for the home-stretch ride. It was exhilarating, with the anticipation of reaching my goal growing stronger with each revolution of the wheels.

I must have looked a sight, but it didn’t matter; I was the only person crazy enough to be out on the trail that day...unless you count the birds, and perhaps a bear or deer, for which I was probably a rare winter’s day vision: woolen socks, thermal-wear under long pants, two long-sleeved shirts, two sweatshirts, a windbreaker, two pairs of gloves and a woolen cap.

Take that, winter!

I was smiling and proud as I reeled off those last few miles. I counted down—three, two, one—flying down past Camp Kline and a harvested corn field, on the Torbert Village bridge over Pine Creek, and then a final 200 yards down Torbert Lane, reaching exactly 5,458 miles at my doorstep.

Type 2 diabetes, glaucoma, a “frozen” right shoulder, spinal stenosis, degenerative-disc disease, a degree of arthritis—despite these health issues, I managed to turn the wheels of my bicycle more than 4 million times this year. And I’m sure that my health is the better for it. I did not have a single cold all year long! And, although I am 66 years old, I feel like I’m in my 20s when I’m out on the trail!

What memories from my year of cycling…most of it on the rail-trail in all kinds of weather.

A beautiful summer day, the temperature in the mid-70s, when I rode 90 miles from my house to just above a trail called the Turkey Path (five miles below Darling Run) and back.

The not-so-beautiful days: pedaling 20 miles through a torrential downpour from Cedar Run to Waterville; being caught in a lightning storm just a mile from home; cycling through a snow squall between Torbert Village and Jersey Shore.

Two bear cubs on the Pine Creek Rail Trail | Screen capture from a video by David Ira Kagan

The exhilarating moments: soaring at 20 miles per hour, with a lovely tailwind, through the Pine Creek Gorge toward Blackwell. Seeing—and filming—a black bear and two cubs crossing the trail just above Dry Run Comfort Station a couple miles below Jersey Mills. Spotting a rattlesnake on top of a copperhead just behind me at a bench. Drinking Yuengling lager and wolfing down a Reuben sandwich at the Waterville Tavern, after a hard day’s ride.

I’m convinced that setting goals in life is important. Even more important is striving hard to reach those goals—overcoming the inevitable obstacles and setbacks, and not giving up. And most rewarding, of course: the moment when those goals are attained. The moral of my story: Don’t allow excuses to keep you from trying!

For 2015, I have set a new goal for myself. I expect to cycle at least 5,459 miles this year…one more than last year.

Call them goals or New Year’s resolutions; but whatever, make them—and commit yourself to fulfilling them! Strive daily toward a goal that gives meaning to the hours of your life.

See you out on the Pine Creek Rail Trail!

On Feb. 23, Dave gave us an update. He said: "After today’s ride (my wife and I have been out in Palm Springs, Calif., since Jan. 2), I now have cycled almost 900 miles so far in 2015, way ahead of last year’s record-breaking pace!"

Way to go, Dave!

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/february/23/no-excuses-how-a-tenacious-66-year-old-achieved-his-5-458-mile-cycling-goal/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/february/23/no-excuses-how-a-tenacious-66-year-old-achieved-his-5-458-mile-cycling-goal/Mon, 23 February 2015 16:34:04 What's Happening: Rail-Trail Roundup - February 2015Greta Zukauskaitehttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/february/12/whats-happening-rail-trail-roundup-february-2015/We know—there’s always so much going on in the rail-trail-bike-ped movement from month to month that it’s impossible to capture it all. But for a brief glimpse of 10 really cool, recent happenings…read on!

2Naming a Future Bike/Ped Legacy (Mich.)

In September 2014, the state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) assigned residents the creative task of naming a planned biking and hiking route stretching from Belle Isle Park in Detroit to Ironwood in the western Upper Peninsula, which, when complete, will provide more than 1,250 miles of hiking and 774 miles of biking opportunity. After sifting through 9,000 possible name suggestions, the “Iron Belle Trail” was chosen as the winner. DNR Director Keith Creagh explained the decision in a Jan. 26 press release, stating that the new name “effectively captures the beauty and strength of our state’s exceptional natural and cultural resources.”

3Natural State of Trails (Fla.)

The newest segment of the Upper Tampa Bay Trail, a.k.a. Phase 4-Section C, in Fla., is on its way—and nature buffs, get this: The project will wind through preserve space, just like the existing part does, but...this segment will cut through the super au naturale Brooker Creek Preserve. Get out the binocs!

4Farm to Trail (Wash.)

Speaking of unique, a new policy in Washington passed by the parks and recreation commission will allow motorized travel that is usually prohibited on most trails. Now, farmers and ranchers can use the 455 miles of rail-trails in the state occasionally, for a fee, if the trails cut through their land.

5Short but Sweet (Pa.)

Residents in Lancaster County, Pa., are feeling the benefits of trails in a more traditional (and totally awesome) way. The opening of a 1.2-mile-long path is now connecting people in the county like never before, linking 4,000 residents in Akron to 13,000 residents in Ephrata, and providing safe and easy routes to work.

In the spirit of the A-Team, allow us to say this: We love it when a trail brings people together.

6Pennsylvania’s Trail of the Year Is a Rail-Trail (Pa.)

We recently heard that the York County Heritage Rail Trail has been named Pennsylvania’s 2015 Trail of the Year! Attracting more than 300,000 visitors annually, the award is well deserved. According to Cindy Adams Dunn, acting secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the trail stood out because of its importance to residents’ health and fitness, its connection to the history of the area and for being a “rare” example of a rail-trail with active rails nearby.

799 Years on the Trail (Mass.)

Residents in a Massachusetts community will soon be able to start building and designing a rail-trail they have been patiently waiting for. For the first time ever, the Massachusetts Bay Transport Authority (MBTA) is leasing land to a nonprofit organization in an effort to create a 4-mile-long rail-trail paralleling the Squannacook River between Townsend and Groton. Squannacook Greenways has received a 99 year lease from the MBTA, and design for the trail will begin soon.

8Waterway to Gateway (Minn.)

Minnesota is celebrating the completion of the new Brown’s Creek State Trail—a 5.9-mile pathway stretching from the St. Croix riverfront town of Stillwater to the town of Grant (where it connects to the Gateway State Trail)—great for walking, biking, rollerblading, horseback riding and skiing. The segment opened in late October, and a dedication ceremony is planned for National Trails Day, June 6, 2015. Welcome!

Dragon building on the High Line in New York | Photo courtesy Karen Blumberg | CC by 2.0

9Freedom of Recreation in Pacific Grove (Calif.)

And we won’t stop there. City officials in Pacific Grove, Calif., have approved a contract to lease an 8.3-mile section of disused rail line (formerly the Union Pacific) so it can finally be used as an official hiking and biking trail. City Manager Thomas Futchery said the lease will “give our residents and visitors unrestricted access to the trail for recreational activities.” We love to hear that.

10Winter Beautification on the High Line (N.Y.)

And here we’ll end with a little merriment: As many of us know, the spring and summer months aren’t the only times to have fun on the trail. The High Line in New York City is getting people to embrace some recent snow storms and engage in some wintery fun. This unique and legendary rail-trail on Manhattan’s west side is hosting a “Snow Sculpt-Off” where residents and visitors can show off their skills and creativity for a chance to win prizes from different retailers in the city. Good luck, everyone!

Until next time…happy trailblazing!

Is there a rail-trail opening or major milestone event related to a rail-trail or bike/ped project in your local area? Tell us!

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/february/12/whats-happening-rail-trail-roundup-february-2015/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/february/12/whats-happening-rail-trail-roundup-february-2015/Thu, 12 February 2015 15:16:05 West Virginia's Mon River TrailsLaura Starkhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/february/11/west-virginias-mon-river-trails/Trail of the Month: February 2015

“I can’t imagine Morgantown without the rail-trail ... I think it adds so much to the community.”

“Wild and Wonderful” is West Virginia’s slogan, but the same could be said of the Mon River Trail system in the north-central part of the state. The beauty of the trail network spiraling out of Morgantown is that you have access to four trails—and four unique experiences—all in one interconnected system spanning nearly 50 miles. Head away from town and you are quickly encompassed by lush woodlands and the quiet splash of small waterfalls. Or, stay in town and have a number of city parks, as well as great dining and shopping opportunities, at your fingertips.

Woodlands on the Mon River Trail | Photo by Chuck Gulker

“It’s a wonderful mix of urban and rural,” says Ella Belling, executive director of the Mon River Trails Conservancy (MRTC). “It’s a nice combination for the people that live here and want to get a break from the urban world and enjoy nature.”

Picture the area’s trail system as an upside down “Y.” The Mon River Trail North, surfaced with crushed limestone, comes down from the Pennsylvania state line hugging the gentle curves of the Mon River (short for Monongahela). The waterway, which Belling likens to the Mississippi, cuts a wide, slow-moving path through the forested terrain. After six miles, the trail seamlessly blends with the paved Caperton Trail, which is more urban than its country cousins as it links Star City and Morgantown. Downtown, the trail splits; the fork heading southwest is the Mon River Trail South, and the one heading southeast is the Deckers Creek Trail. Both are crushed stone pathways guiding you through one scenic vista after another for nearly 20 miles each.

For Laurie Abildso, who directs the regional chapter of Girls on the Run, the Mon River Trail system is the perfect setting for their annual 5K run. “A lot of people who do the event are doing it for the first time,” she says. “So the trail is a nice, gentle introduction to running for long distances. They’re well maintained and safe.”

Girls on the Run 5K event on the Caperton Trail | Photo by Angela Lindley, courtesy Blue Iris Portrait Photography

The event—which draws more than 1,000 participants, including the girls, their families and the general public—is the culmination of a 12-week program that uses physical activity as one way to help girls in third to eighth grade gain self-esteem and learn positive life skills. “When they start the program, they don’t think they’ll be able to run three miles,” says Abildso. “But then they do it, and it’s such a powerful experience.”

When Belling visits the trails, she confesses to being a slow cyclist. With binoculars in hand, she likes to “soak up nature,” frequently stopping to “bike and bird” as well as identify the trees and plants around her. Deer are common here, and even black bears and coyotes are occasionally sighted.

With spring on the way, another “W” that could be applied to the trail system is wildflowers. Belling notes that many of them grow along the trail, and her favorite time to see them is just around the corner. “There’s a four-week period with amazing bursts of color right before the leaves burst out on the trees at the beginning of spring.”

An especially good place to spot them is the Caperton section, which runs right through the arboretum on the campus of West Virginia University (WVU) and also traverses Hazel Ruby McQuain Riverfront Park, known for its showy cherry blossoms. The park pays homage to the trail’s heritage with a restored railroad depot that first saw passengers in 1886 and now serves as a visitor center and bus station. Both the Caperton and the pair of Mon River Trails on either side of Morgantown follow a branch of the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad, which primarily carried coal, coke, sand and limestone between the mines of Fairmont and the industrial city of Pittsburgh. (The Deckers Creek Trail follows the former Morgantown and Kingwood Railroad, which met the B&O line in Morgantown and extended to Rowlesburg.)

“There are a lot of remnants from the railroad and the coal mines along the trails,” says Belling. “You can feel the history of the place.”

In the warmer weather, the stately red brick buildings of WVU’s Woodburn Circle—listed on the National Register of Historic Places—make an especially vivid contrast to the wide green expanses of the school’s well-manicured grounds. Founded in 1867 (only a few years after West Virginia became a state), the university has long been Morgantown’s flagship institution, and the city frequently finds its way onto lists of the country’s top college towns.

West Virginia native Kelly Pack, trail development director for Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC), remembers the early development of the Mon River Trail system when she began attending WVU in the late 1990s.

“The whole landscape along the trail in Morgantown has completely changed for the better.”

“It has drastically changed since I was there,” Pack says. “When I was running on the Caperton Trail, I felt like I had a backstage pass to the community. Morgantown was just starting the revitalization of the riverfront, so you were going behind these vacant areas. Now, there’s new development along the river—hotels, restaurants and shops—with the trail as a focal point. The whole landscape along the trail in Morgantown has completely changed for the better.”

Mon River Rail-Trail at Pricketts Fort | Photo by Steve Shaluta, courtesy Convention and Visitors Bureau of Marion County

Twenty years ago, the MRTC acquired the rail corridor through which the trails now run, and the future only looks brighter today. This year, the Mon River Trail North will connect to Pennsylvania’s Sheepskin Trail, which will continue north to the community of Point Marion. Although the new segment is short—just over a mile—it signifies a big step toward connecting the Morgantown system to the Great Allegheny Passage, a distinguished member of RTC’s Rail-Trail Hall of Fame. The groundbreaking ceremony for the new section will be made during RTC’s upcoming West Virginia Rail-Trail Sojourn, April 24-26.

In the other direction, a more distant dream is to one day close about 20 miles of gaps to connect the Mon River Trail system with the North Bend Rail Trail, a rural scenic gem that stretches 72 miles west to Parkersburg. Together, they would create a 150-mile trail that Pack says would be “incredible” and on the scale of the renowned Great Allegheny Passage.

River view on the Mon River Trail | Photo by Chuck Gulker

All of these regional trails are pieces of a much larger puzzle. RTC is partnering with the Pennsylvania Environmental Council to lead a collaborative effort involving dozens of trail groups and other organizations in closing gaps and building out a 1,600-mile trail network spanning five states (Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and New York). Originally known as the Power of 32+ for the number of counties involved, the growing project now includes trails in 53 counties.

The hub of this network is Pittsburgh, and Morgantown—just 75 miles south— serves as an important spoke in the wheel. “There’s a great energy to Morgantown,” says Abildso. “More and more people are out there on their bikes. And there are lots of running events in the spring and summer; most Saturday and Sunday mornings, you’ll see an organization out there.”

In addition to wild, wonderful and wildflowers, we have one last “W” to add to the list. With its genuine charm, beautiful views around every bend in the river, unique historical and cultural sites, and a well-loved, well-cared-for trail system linking it all, this thriving trail town is welcoming.

“I can’t imagine Morgantown without the rail-trail,” says Abildso. “I think it adds so much to the community.”

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/february/11/west-virginias-mon-river-trails/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/february/11/west-virginias-mon-river-trails/Wed, 11 February 2015 10:06:53 From 5th Grade to 50 States: Couple Achieves 70-Year Biking DreamLaura Starkhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/february/09/from-5th-grade-to-50-states-couple-achieves-70-year-biking-dream/This story was originally printed in the Spring/Summer 2013 issue of Rails to Trails. As you’ll soon find out, the Ralstons have truly shared a bike-trail romance of a lifetime.

Bicycling in every state is an admirable accomplishment for anyone. Meeting that goal at 82 is something really special.

In a letter that appeared in the Fall 2012 Rails to Trails, octogenarians Jack and Jeannette Ralston shared the news that they achieved their dream of pedaling in all 50 states, and that they’d used Rails to Trails to help find trails for their “cycling the nation” endeavor.

Married 60-plus years, the Kingsport, Tenn., couple met in fifth grade, riding to and from school in a suburb of Chicago. That childhood bike riding made Illinois the first state to be checked off their 50-state list. More than 70 years later, New Mexico became their last, when they rode the Paseo del Bosque Trail, a 16-mile route along the Rio Grande River in Albuquerque. “Once we got Hawaii and Alaska out of the way, the rest was easy!” Jeannette says.

They first got serious about the 50-state plan in 2002, when Jack started keeping track of the trails and states they visited. “I traveled to New England to play golf with my brother,” he says. One of his brother’s ambitions was to golf in every state. “While we were in Vermont, we saw the Burlington trail that runs along Lake Champlain. We thought, ‘We’ve got to come back and do that.’”

Years later, they did ride that trail, called the Island Line Rail Trail, as part of their own “bucket list” goal—riding trails in every state rather than playing golf courses.

“It’s a fun bucket list to have because every state is different,” says Jeannette. Their favorite destination was the Virginia Creeper National Recreation Trail, a 34-mile rail-trail that winds through scenic woodlands and charming towns in southern Virginia. The Ralstons continue to visit the Virginia Creeper several times a year.

Although they’ve both had hip replacements and Jack has had a knee replacement, the Ralstons credit trail riding with keeping them healthy and fit. Jack quips, “We’re bionic now!” Jeannette laughs, and says, “Short of a casket, nothing’s going to stop us!”

“The phone rang right after we got our copy [of the magazine containing the letter],” says Jeannette. The caller was a woman in New Jersey, who said, “My friend and I want to do this, too, and all our friends think we’re crazy.”

Jeannette told her to go for it.

Update - Feb. 13, 2015: We recently heard from Jack and Jeannette, and they're still going strong! In their words: 85 and still biking! Way to go, Ralstons.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/february/09/from-5th-grade-to-50-states-couple-achieves-70-year-biking-dream/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/february/09/from-5th-grade-to-50-states-couple-achieves-70-year-biking-dream/Mon, 09 February 2015 15:34:35 Leave Your Trace Behind: 2015 Pennsylvania Rail-Trail SojournTom Sextonhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/february/06/leave-your-trace-behind-2015-pennsylvania-rail-trail-sojourn/They say that to preserve America’s resources for future generations, we should “leave no trace behind.” But for those who love trails and the awesome opportunities they make possible—sometimes it’s about doing just the opposite.

And while this ride will certainly be an unforgettable experience—six days, incredible vistas, welcoming communities, unique historical sites and comradery that lasts long after the sojourn ends—it will also be a way for riders to leave their positive trace on communities along the route.

RTC sojourns are designed to draw attention to gaps in would-be trail networks that, if completed, could help spur tons of new benefits in their local areas, including trail tourism, economic development, community pride and much more.

The influence that trail networks have on economic development, in particular, is well proven. For example, in 2013, an RTC study of the central leg (six connected trails) of the developing 270-mile Erie to Pittsburgh Trail in northwest Pennsylvania determined that in 2013, a total of more than 158,000 annual user visits had an economic impact of almost $7.5 million. Wow!

RTC sojourns unite a set of trails for a short period of time—serving as “dry runs” to benchmark how those trail-network improvements could make local areas more bikeable and walkable, and help ignite similar benefits.

Riding the Panhandle Trail during the 2014 sojourn | Photo by Katie Harris

Last year, the Pennsylvania Rail-Trail Sojourn generated $214,000 in positive economic impact for communities in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland in just six days. Another wow!

And the more we show this type of impact, the more communities are taking notice and demanding new trail connections.

By participating in our Rail-Trail Sojourns, you can make a lasting impact on America and help inspire the creation of biking/walking networks that boost our local economies and our quality of life.

And of course, the experiences you’ll have as a sojourner—the positive trace these rides will leave in you, so to speak—are just as impactful. In addition to seeing some amazing places, you’ll be able to interact with people from all across America, different in age, background and biking ability, but united by a commonality: a passion for trails.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/february/06/leave-your-trace-behind-2015-pennsylvania-rail-trail-sojourn/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/february/06/leave-your-trace-behind-2015-pennsylvania-rail-trail-sojourn/Fri, 06 February 2015 11:13:04 Plenty of Partnerships in This Trail Mix: Evolution of a Michigan TrailNancy Krupiarzhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/february/05/plenty-of-partnerships-in-this-trail-mix-evolution-of-a-michigan-trail/They say, “Good things come to those who wait.” This is certainly true for the Friends of the Clinton-Ionia-Shiawassee Trail. With the official opening of the 42-mile Fred Meijer Clinton-Ionia-Shiawassee Trail on Jan. 5, 2015, its journey—22 years after the Central Michigan Railroad officially terminated service on the corridor, came to a glorious end. The completed trail, which includes nine bridges and trestles, will showcase the Maple and Grand rivers, fertile farm fields, woodlands and five quaint communities conveniently spaced 8 to 10 miles apart along its length.

This project had more than its fair share of challenges due to the fact that it stretches across three very different rural counties, tripling the usual number of meetings and questions and concerns raised all along the way of your typical trail project. There was also a failed “Rams Horn” rail-trail effort from Bath to Owosso in 1994, which had left some lingering battle scars for local trail advocates.

Citizens Spring into Action

Initial discussions Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) held with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to outright purchase the corridor for interim use as a trail had held some fleeting promise. It was clear this had to be a citizen-led effort, and to that end, a small citizen’s coalition in St. Johns, CAPIT (Clinton Area Planning for Intergovernmental Teamwork), helped form a friends group in the spring of 1999.

The first few years saw a robust cycle of community meetings and due diligence paid to addressing concerns. By 2004, when meetings had been held several times in each community, and there was still no decisive action, RTC petitioned the counties to appoint three representatives each to a Tri-County Trail Study Committee. Experts came from all across the state to answer questions on hunting, trespassing, maintenance funding, property values, zoning and trail user safety, which led to support for the trail from all three counties.

Reaching Middle Ground

With public support won, questions remained about who would own and operate a three-county trail. These details were not easily hammered out between counties that, by some accounts, were not used to working together.

One boost came from the Meijer Foundation, which pledged $3 million if the communities agreed to own and operate the trail together.

And then, a dilemma—and another answer—came in 2006. The Michigan Milk Producers Association wished to purchase a segment of the corridor to allow for plant expansion, thereby bringing new jobs to the area. But—the unresolved trail project stood in the way. Then Governor Jennifer Granholm, in an effort to secure the new jobs and at the same time propel the new trail forward, asked MDOT and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to piece the project together and arrange for a property swap for the milk producers. A win-win.

New Connections

By 2007, all issues were resolved, and the state of Michigan formally acquired the corridor for trail conversion. With ownership by the state, two of the three counties agreed to an interjurisdictional trail management authority, and fundraising began. Meanwhile, new rail-trail opportunities arose, adding a 41-mile extension to the proposed project and also materializing a connection at its northern endpoint to the existing 42-mile Fred Meijer Heartland Trail. This would make for a 125-mile connected rail-trail network. The emerging network would run through a range of ever-changing landscapes and cross jurisdictional boundaries at least 13 times throughout its course; obviously, it needed a master plan to present a united vision.

The National Park Service, together with the Michigan DNR and a team of stakeholders from each trail, provided a master blueprint for development. Grants from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund and the federal Transportation Enhancements program ensured the acquisition.

The Friends of the Fred Meijer Clinton-Ionia-Shiawassee Trail were instrumental in raising $55,000, and local communities surrounding the trail corridor contributed $125,000. That funding matched $4.9 million in public grants and $1.6 million from the Meijer Foundation, which sealed the deal to acquire and develop the trail. Grants for the other segments of the long network were successful as well, leaving at this time only 27.5 miles to complete a 125-mile vision made possible by so many partners.

Welcome, Trail Users!

Communities along the Clinton-Ionia-Shiawassee Trail eagerly await the arrival of springtime trail users, who will enjoy the rivers, woods and meadows, and discover the small, welcoming towns, along the new trail.

“All in all, the trail will have a huge positive impact on the community, from increased business to potential new housing developments and the fantastic recreational opportunity it represents for everyone,” says Dana Beaman, mayor of the City of St. Johns.

It is a dream come true for Mid-Michigan (at last)—a chance to enhance their place in Michigan’s tourism picture and illuminate the great places that make the region such a quality place to live.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/february/05/plenty-of-partnerships-in-this-trail-mix-evolution-of-a-michigan-trail/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/february/05/plenty-of-partnerships-in-this-trail-mix-evolution-of-a-michigan-trail/Thu, 05 February 2015 12:02:37 Bike-Savvy Middle Schoolers Help Reclaim—and Redesign—Columbus StreetsKatie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/february/03/bike-savvy-middle-schoolers-help-reclaim-and-redesign-columbus-streets/A formidable group of young women travels the streets of Columbus. Helmet clad, they roll through town on their bikes, searching for sidewalks and bike lanes and assessing street lighting. They know the names of the city council members who represent them, and you may find them behind a microphone at a town hall meeting advocating for the local bicycling movement. They also help cyclists themselves; they can fix a flat bike tire without giving it a second thought.
Girls in Gear presents street design ideas to elected officials in Columbus | Photo courtesy Girls in Gear

They are an impressive group. Oh, and they’re in middle school!

These young women are graduates of Girls in Gear, an eight-week bicycle training and empowerment program for females ages 9 to 15. Since the program began two years ago, it has had a major impact; so far, 21 girls have completed the course and earned a bike upon graduation.

The crew’s leader is Jessica Mathews, Safe Routes to School program manager for the Columbus-based bike advocacy organization Consider Biking. According to Mathews, the idea for Girls in Gear came to her several years ago while she was performing walking audits for middle schools throughout Columbus. On those outings, she noticed how the students reacted, or didn’t react, to the surrounding marginalized neighborhoods, characterized by vacant houses, trash-lined streets and landscapes dominated by blight.

“What I sensed from the kids was that they were immune to that environment,” Mathews says. “They felt like it was OK to be surrounded by those things—that that’s just the way it was going to be.”

This inspired Mathews to take action, and Girls in Gear was born. The goal: to build confidence, self-esteem and self-reliance in participants, while showing them that they could have a voice in how their streets and neighborhoods were designed and cared for. “I wanted to expand their thinking about their role in the community and give them tools to change it for the better,” Mathews says.

Photo courtesy Girls in Gear

She initially focused on three topics: bike safety, bike mechanics and urban design. But as Girls in Gear evolved, she added two more sections, nutrition education and public speaking, to incorporate personal development into the curriculum.

The female focus of the program was motivated by Mathews’ own experiences working in a male-dominated field. She points out that when it comes to bicycling, the gender gap goes much further than the bike shop—to engineering and regional planning and many other professions that impact the streetscape. “I want to show these girls that they can be the ones to redesign the streets,” she states.

Mathews says most of the course concepts are new to the girls, and she loves “watching the light bulbs go off” as they discover new skills. Some girls thrive with the hands-on, bike mechanics segment. Others find their niche in urban design or public speaking. “I watch their confidence grow through the program. The hesitation that they bring with them on day one dissipates week by week.”

The transformation is powerful, and Girls in Gear has generated quite a few success stories. Last summer, for example, three program alumni showed up at a neighborhood meeting after Mathews told them that street design was on the agenda. That small prompt was all they needed to take action and share their voices in a public platform.

“I just let them know about it,” Mathews says. “They showed up on their own accord. I’d call that a pretty major success.”

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/february/03/bike-savvy-middle-schoolers-help-reclaim-and-redesign-columbus-streets/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/february/03/bike-savvy-middle-schoolers-help-reclaim-and-redesign-columbus-streets/Tue, 03 February 2015 15:22:44 Yes, Black Women Bike!Katie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/february/03/yes-black-women-bike/It was a simple exclamation from a young girl that set Veronica Davis’ wheels in motion to found one of the District of Columbia’s most vibrant female bike clubs. As she rode through her southeast Washington, D.C., neighborhood on a summer afternoon in 2011, she watched this girl tug her mother’s sleeve and yell, “Look, mommy! Look at that black lady on a bike!”

Davis tweeted about the experience and, on a whim, created the hashtag #blackwomenbike. The somewhat joking hashtag opened up a dialogue—first on social media channels, then in real life—with other black women in the D.C. region. Davis found that many of them were having similar experiences.

It was time and they were ready, she says, to bust the myth that black women don’t bike.

In 2011, Davis and two other women with whom she’d been dialoguing, Nse Ufot and Najeema Washington, founded Black Women Bike DC (in 2013, the organization became a sponsored project of the Washington Area Bicyclist Association). Davis says the group immediately filled a niche in the city. With a vision of encouraging bike riding for fun, health and wellness, and transportation, the group is different from most other biking groups, which focus largely on recreation. “We give women the tools they need to use a bike in any way they want,” Davis explains.

Black Women Bike DC bicycling workshop | Photo courtesy Randall Myers

The project’s reach and impact are multifaceted. In addition to leading monthly rides, the group hosts workshops covering a range of topics, from how to pick out a bike that works for one’s needs to how to continue riding in the winter.

Nichole Noel, a member of the organization’s leadership council, says one of her favorite parts of Black Women Bike DC is having an accepting community of welcoming friends who serve as “incredible” resources. “There is always someone to answer questions for you,” she says. “We can share our experiences and expertise in different ways. ‘What do I do with my hair? What if I have dreadlocks? Where can I find an extra-large helmet?’ We’re constantly learning from each other.”

As Black Women Bike DC seeks to reach out to women across all parts of the city, members are exploring several new strategies. They intend to hold more events at locations where people aren’t yet comfortable riding, but which are close to Capital Bikeshare stations—so owning a bike isn’t a prerequisite for getting in the saddle. At the same time, the group will be shifting its focus to some of D.C.’s predominantly black neighborhoods in wards 7 and 8, east of the Anacostia River.

When it comes to developing sufficient bike infrastructure in those neighborhoods, transforming citizens into advocates is paramount in Noel’s mind. “If we want [biking] infrastructure in wards 7 and 8, then we have to get more people riding and more people insisting on [this] infrastructure.”

As Black Women Bike DC pumps up its presence and reaches more people in the Southeast quadrant of the city, Noel expects the increased visibility will help generate even more support for the project’s mission.

And with that increased support—the opportunity to shift the dominant narrative of who bikes in the nation’s capital.

Keep up the good work, ladies!

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/february/03/yes-black-women-bike/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/february/03/yes-black-women-bike/Tue, 03 February 2015 13:26:18 Musician-Bicyclist Peter Mulvey to Play for Trails on Jan. 25Amy Kapphttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/january/20/musician-bicyclist-peter-mulvey-to-play-for-trails-on-jan-25/Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) was super excited to hear from Peter Mulvey, veteran singer-songwriter, passionate cyclist and rail-trail supporter, who will be performing a 12-hour online concert, a.k.a. Peter Mulvey’s One Day World Tour, on Jan. 25, 2015.

Each hour of this “pay what you want” event, Mulvey will play a 45-minute set and give a shout out to a different nonprofit. And guess what? Hour 11 (6 p.m. CT/7 p.m. EST) will be dedicated to RTC. How awesome is that?

If you’re familiar with Mulvey, you might know about his history of giving concert tours by bike. Several hundred miles. No support vehicle. To use his own words, they are just “[him] and a guitar strapped to the bike rack.”

Image courtesy Peter Mulvey

When asked recently why he’s so passionate about trails and biking, here’s what Mulvey told RTC:

“I've spent my life traveling, by car and by airplane, seeing Europe and America on countless tours, and I've loved it. But eight years ago, when I did my first concert tour by bicycle—traveling with a small band of friends under our own power across the landscape—I felt as though I'd been connected with something deeply human. When your group is passing by a clearing, and someone puts out their arm to point out dozens of Sandhill Cranes in the morning mist, and you've got miles behind you and miles ahead, that's transcendent.”

The concert will be streamed live via Concert Window from the Café Carpe in Fort Atkinson, Wis., and we encourage you to tune in! And, if you live near the Café Carpe, you can even check out Mulvey’s last two sets in person. RTC’s hour (second to last) will be an acoustic set, and the last set will include a full band.

Mulvey and Concert Window have graciously decided to donate half the proceeds of the concert to the 12 nonprofits recognized during the day. RTC is thrilled to have been chosen for this honor, and we extend our gratitude to both Mulvey and Concert Window for their support of America’s trails.

On or about Jan. 9, 2015, Norfolk Southern Railway Company filed for the abandonment of 1.3 miles of track near Massillon in Stark County, Ohio. The corridor is located just south of the existing Olde Muskingum Trail. We are providing this information because it presents an opportunity to develop a real regional asset: a multi-use trail that can accommodate hikers, bikers, equestrians and other appropriate uses.

NEXT STEPS: If this corridor is suitable for trail use, we strongly urge local trail advocates, or an appropriate local, regional or state agency or organization, to take action now. A “boiler plate” letter (found here) can be filed with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) and the abandoning railroad using STB docket number AB-290 (sub-no. 366x). Filing this letter does not commit its authors to acquire the corridor; it merely gives time to develop a rail-trail proposal and undertake negotiations with the railroad. According to the information we have received, the deadline for filing this letter is Feb. 8, 2015. Even if this deadline is missed, there is probably still time to contact the relevant parties, since the railroad may have experienced a delay in filing all of the paperwork, or the STB may still have jurisdiction over the corridor. However, it is important to take prompt action. The STB posts all abandonment decisions and filings on its website, including the complete filing for this corridor. More information on the rail corridor, including a map, can be found in this filing, or view a clearer map of the approximate route here.

The STB has imposed a $300 filing fee for all railbanking requests. Entities filing a railbanking request may request a fee waiver or reduction, and government agencies will receive an automatic fee waiver. Throughout the process, make sure local government officials and citizen activists are kept informed of the project’s progress. We also recommend contacting your state trails coordinator or your state bicycle/pedestrian coordinator.

Both of these individuals are knowledgeable about state laws and resources and may be able to assist your community with this rail-trail project. Also, you may want to contact the abandoning railroad to add your name to their service list.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE: RTC’s website may provide valuable tools as you plan for a rail-trail, including how-to manuals, the Trail-Building Toolbox, our Resource Library and the Trails & Greenways Listserv for trail advocates and professionals. These resources can be found within the “Build Trails” section of our website. If you take advantage of this information and other resources promptly, you will be well on your way to creating a successful rail-trail in your community. For more information, or if you decide to pursue railbanking, please contact our Trail Development Department.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/january/20/notice-upcoming-railroad-abandonment-in-stark-county-ohio/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/january/20/notice-upcoming-railroad-abandonment-in-stark-county-ohio/Tue, 20 January 2015 16:29:02 Five Great Trail Activities and Their Health BenefitsElissa Southwardhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/january/17/five-great-trail-activities-and-their-health-benefits/If you are looking to adopt a healthier lifestyle in 2015, keep in mind that the old belief that it takes 21 days to form a habit may not be true. Research shows that it takes consistent work and commitment.

And when it comes to being physically active, trails provide a wide range of outdoor activities to keep us motivated year-round. Each activity has unique pluses; the key is to find one that's right for you (and of course, mix it up, too)!

*Here are just a few examples:

Walk It Off

Benefits: Nearly anyone in reasonable health can engage in some low- to moderate-impact exercise like walking. Brisk walking burns as many calories as jogging for the same distance and poses less risk for injury to muscle and bone. Also, low impact means it’s easier on joints and tendons.

Run for Your Life

Benefits: Did you know that running helps lower your blood pressure by maintaining the elasticity of your arteries? It also maximizes your lungs’ potential and keeps them strong and powerful, strengthens your heart and helps prevent heart attacks. Fun fact: The heart of an inactive person beats 36,000 more times each day than that of a runner.

Healthy Cycle

Benefits: No surprise here that biking is great for strengthening and toning muscles—especially our legs and backside! It can also be an effective way to prevent and manage various conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, while increasing our energy levels and helping us manage stress and pain. And did you know? It’s good for the prevention and reduction of arthritis.

Calories burned (12 to 14 mph): 472 for a 130-pound individual; 836 for a 230-pound individual

Get Inline, and Let's Roll

Benefits: When compared with walking and biking, inline skating and rollerblading sometimes fly under the radar, but they do offer some unique health benefits. For example, they are better for developing specific hip and thigh muscles—and they’re more effective than biking, in particular, for targeting the hamstrings. Also, these low-impact activities have been found to cause less than 50 percent of the impact shock to joints than running. They have also been found to provide a better aerobic workout than biking, because with biking, it’s easier to coast.

Pole Position

Benefits: Cross-country skiing requires us to use a large number of muscle groups at one time, depending on the type of technique used (diagonal stride vs. double-pole technique, for example), making it a great strengthening and endurance activity. The use of ski poles to propel oneself down the trail also means that naturally, it’s a much more intense upper-body workout than walking or running. Of course, you’ve got to have snow. But “weather permitting,” it’s a great calorie burner.

For just a moment, let's assume that the 21-day habit does exist. The good news is that if you have a bad day on say, day 20, it won’t set you back to day 1! It’s okay to fall off the wagon now and again. We all do. Just get back on it and keep going. Don’t focus on your failures and self-criticism in 2015; instead, celebrate each and every success (no matter how small) and continue on the path to a healthier you!

*Note! When exercising, you should always listen to your body and consult a doctor if you’re experiencing chest pain, fatigue, nausea, unexpected breathlessness or lightheadedness.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/january/17/five-great-trail-activities-and-their-health-benefits/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/january/17/five-great-trail-activities-and-their-health-benefits/Sat, 17 January 2015 00:11:15 New Proposal Could Mean User Fees for C&O Canal TowpathAmy Kapphttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/january/16/new-proposal-could-mean-user-fees-for-co-canal-towpath/Here’s a quick heads up for trail users and outdoor enthusiasts active in the Washington, D.C.-Maryland area.

In early January 2015, the National Park Service (NPS) announced that it is proposing user fees on the entire length of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park (a.k.a. C&O Canal Towpath), which runs 184.5 miles from Georgetown in Washington, D.C., to Cumberland, Md. This includes both entrance fees and overnight campsite fees.

"Right now, the only location on the 186-mile linear park where a fee is charged is the Great Falls Tavern area in Potomac. The park proposes adding entrance fee collection to all areas outside the District of Columbia."

Bisbee writes that C&O park leadership is asking for the public’s feedback and support, maintaining that fee revenue is critical to park operations; however, the news has not been well received by many individuals.

NPS is inviting public feedback on the proposal, with all comments due by Feb. 22, 2015. A number of public hearings have also been scheduled between Jan. 21 and Feb. 5 at various locations in Maryland.

If you’d like to weigh in—now’s your chance.

For detailed information on the proposed user fees and the public hearings, and to access a link to the NPS feedback page, check out Bisbee’s blog below.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/january/16/new-proposal-could-mean-user-fees-for-co-canal-towpath/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/january/16/new-proposal-could-mean-user-fees-for-co-canal-towpath/Fri, 16 January 2015 23:17:35 Wisconsin's Kinnickinnic River TrailLaura Starkhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/january/13/wisconsins-kinnickinnic-river-trail/Trail of the Month: January 2015

“It’s just the beginning of something that will be even more wonderful.”

The story of Milwaukee’s Kinnickinnic River Trail is the story of its eponymous river; paralleling each other through the city’s south side, the fate of the two is intimately intertwined. The KK River Trail, as it’s known locally, is also referred to as the “lost river.” Lined with concrete in the 1960s in an effort to improve floodwater flows, the channel deteriorated over time, becoming contaminated, filled with trash and defaced with graffiti. What was once a vibrant waterway along a busy harbor of Lake Michigan was reduced to nothing more than an ugly and forgotten drainage ditch.

The river restoration involved removing the concrete that lined the channel and replacing it with natural stone. | Photo by Christopher Zaborsky

A few years ago, a plan was put in motion to change the course of its future. The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) would widen the river from 50 feet to 200 feet to improve its ability to channel floodwater, replace the concrete with river stone and add natural vegetation to restore the river’s allure for both wildlife and people. Although only 1,000 feet of the watercourse have been improved so far, the difference is astonishing. Its once steep slopes are now beautifully tiered and accessible, and trout and salmon can be seen swimming in its waters. For the remainder of the river project, about 75 percent of the private property needed for completion has been acquired.

“We want to make this corridor into an asset for the community, rather than this open sewer,” says Patrick Elliott, MMSD’s senior project manager. “It’s an urban watershed, so it’s struggled, but the river is definitely on its way to getting better.”

In tandem with these efforts, an existing rail-trail adjacent to the river project will be extended westward along the river to provide better access to the newly revitalized waterway, and to connect parks, businesses and schools throughout the neighborhood. Elliott says MMSD was already planning to create a basic, unpaved trail along the river for maintenance and upkeep, so it was a natural fit to improve on that idea and create a paved trail that the public could use as well.

Signage and public art along the KK River Trail | Photo courtesy of Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers

“Now you see people actually using the river,” he says. “It’s encouraging to see families getting out there, even doing some fishing. You don’t see that on the part that’s still concrete on the other side of the bridge.”

The first segment of the KK River Trail opened in 2013, and while just a little more than two miles have been completed, its benefits are still rippling through the adjacent Lincoln Village and Bay View neighborhoods.

“The trail is a big asset in an extremely dense, urban neighborhood,” says Kristin Bennett, Milwaukee’s bicycle and pedestrian transportation coordinator. “There aren’t large swaths of open space, so it creates this recreational opportunity right in the heart of all these people.”

Elliott says residents have rallied around the project, recalling one particular river clean-up event this past October. “It was 30 degrees out and rainy, a miserable day, but it was packed! The community involvement in this area is really great."

Recognizing the connection between the health of the river and the health of the community, the Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers (SSCHC) became a key partner in the project early on. The healthcare provider, serving the city’s south side in an area where 80 percent of the population is Latino, has been working to build awareness of the river and trail among residents and foster educational programming and volunteering efforts. The group worked with students from local schools to create public art and a butterfly garden along the trail, as well as trail signage in both English and Spanish.

“The trail was a new space for the community,” says Iris Gonzalez, SSCHC’s community engagement specialist. “This past year, we started a weekly summer camp program along the trail where participants learned biking skills and explored the natural surroundings in this urban environment. Part of the trail is really wooded.”

The public art that the students created included colorful tiles that lined three wooden pillars carrying a symbolic message. “This river is undergoing transformation, and the woods and the neighborhood are undergoing transformation as well, so they used the imagery of a caterpillar and a butterfly to represent that,” says Gonzalez.

Looking east from the future trail extension toward the I-94 Bridge | Photo by Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc, courtesy Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District

Plans are underway to add another two miles to the trail, nearly doubling its length as it continues west along the ever-improving river from 6th Street to 27th Street. This phase of the project is in the design and engineering stage with construction anticipated to begin in 2018 and end in 2022.

“Opening up access in these neighborhoods to new recreational opportunities is challenging because we’re so land-locked,” says Ben Gramling, director of the environmental health department for SSCHC. “This trail will open up more territory for people to lead more active lifestyles and provide access to the Kinnickinnic River Parkway and Jackson Park, a jewel in Milwaukee’s park system.”

“It’s all right there,” says Bennett. “The potential for the trail is astronomical because of all the development happening around it.”

The trail’s north end—where it currently ends just two miles shy of the downtown core and the city’s famed Hank Aaron State Trail—already caters to a growing center of activity. Last fall, the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee opened a new state-of-the-art research facility for its School of Freshwater Sciences near the city’s lakefront, about a block from the trail. In that same area, a new mixed-use development with residences, office space and a grocery store is anticipated to open along Greenfield Avenue in 2016. And a stone’s throw away is the Oak Leaf Trail, an extensive and primarily on-road bicycling network of more than 100 miles that puts many areas of the city within reach.

Rail-with-trail section of the Kinnickinnic River Trail | Photo by John December

“It’s all right there,” says Bennett. “The potential for the trail is astronomical because of all the development happening around it.”

With these connections, the KK River Trail ties into an already vast and growing trail network; Milwaukee is serving as a hub of potential with trail spokes stretching outward north toward Sheboygan, south to Racine and Chicago, and westward to Madison, La Crosse and Minneapolis’ doorstep.

Perhaps Gonzalez sums up the evolving trail best by saying, “It’s just the beginning of something that will be even more wonderful.”

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/january/13/wisconsins-kinnickinnic-river-trail/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/january/13/wisconsins-kinnickinnic-river-trail/Tue, 13 January 2015 09:55:33 How to Keep That Healthy Trail ResolutionAmy Kapphttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/january/09/how-to-keep-that-healthy-trail-resolution/Losing weight and getting fit may be two of the most popular New Year’s resolutions in America, but they’re also two of the most commonly broken. There are lots of reasons—busy work schedules, not knowing where or how to start a fitness routine, etc.—but they all equate to one thing: our not reaching our health goals for another year.

Whoever said “Variety is the spice of life!” isn’t far off; changing things up is not only good for our muscles, but good for our minds as well. And that’s what makes trails so great; not only do they provide us safe places to be physically active—they also provide us with safe places to get to other great places to be physically active!

That being said, here are just a few trail destination ideas that can help you keep your 2015 health resolution interesting, and keep it—full stop!

Fitness Stations

Exercise circuits aren’t just for the gym; many trails offer fitness stations along their routes, like the Hudson Valley Rail-Trail’s half-mile parcourse fitness circuit, for example. Some are certainly more complex than others, and you’ll want to research if and where they fall along a particular trail, but a great thing is that you can basically work them in at your own pace and skill level.

Parks and Playgrounds

In some cases, the organization that manages a trail is the same organization that manages the local park system, and in other cases, a trail manager and a park system might be working in partnership with each other, resulting in many trails leading to, or connecting to spurs that lead to, parks and playgrounds. Why not take that brisk walk to the park with your children, have a healthy picnic, get in that play time and take a brisk return walk home—all the healthier and happier for it?

Ball Fields and Courts

There are often public, first-come, first-serve sports facilities located along trails and pedestrian walkways; for example, there are multiple spots along the Armagosa Trail in Nevada where you can access baseball fields, and volleyball, basketball and tennis courts (you’ll even find horseshoe pits and a splash pad). If you don’t mind toting a little sports equipment along with you on your trail ride or run, you might make a date with a pal to shoot a few hoops or hit the trail with a friend on your way to the soccer field? (Be sure to check for hours of operation!)

Recreation Centers/Fitness Centers

Does your trail or favorite biking/walking route connect to a public recreation center (like the one along the Monon Trail in Indiana, for example)? If so, you might stop off your route for a little weight lifting or Zumba, or hit an organic gardening class? A lot of centers do charge a membership fee or small admission fee, but the upside is that many offer a huge variety of health and wellness classes, and physical activity opportunities—from swimming, to martial arts, to dance, to weights, to spin classes and more.

So...when you’re out on the trail in 2015, be sure take advantage of all the benefits your local trails have to offer! It will make it more interesting and more fun to achieve your health goals this year—and for years to come!

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/january/09/how-to-keep-that-healthy-trail-resolution/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/january/09/how-to-keep-that-healthy-trail-resolution/Fri, 09 January 2015 15:29:03 Ride, Women, RideKatie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/january/09/ride-women-ride/When Carmen Berte met The Bella Donnas, Milwaukee, Wis.'s, self-described “premier all-girl, noncompetitive, mentoring and motivational cycling group,” in 2008, she wasn’t sure it was the right place for her. Berte wanted to train with a group for her first triathlon, but at 56, she thought she was too old for The Bella Donnas.

Her hesitation didn’t last long. Bella Donna Founder Jillian Imilkowski greeted her with enthusiasm and warmth, and Berte knew she had made an important connection. “It turns out, it was exactly where I needed to be,” she says. “I found a new home. And the rest is history.”

The Bella Donnas | Photo CC Jillian Imilkowski

Imilkowski created The Bella Donnas in 2007 in response to the relative lack of recreational and educational women’s cycling groups in Milwaukee. What started as a group of five friends morphed into a community of more than 300 female riders with varying levels of skill and expertise. Imilkowski set an inclusive tone, and “The Bellas” have maintained that attitude of acceptance and support as the group has grown. They host introductory sessions at various locations around the city—an organizational “open house,” of sorts—and regularly invite newcomers on rides. The youngest member is less than 10 years old, and the oldest is more than 60.

“There is a ‘leave no woman behind’ philosophy,” says Berte. “No matter who you are, there is something for you within The Bellas.”

The Bella Donnas themselves help determine the shape of the program. In addition to holding regular rides and events, the group also provides a mentoring component in which members reach out to their friends and family members and encourage the women in their lives to pick up their bikes once more. Rides are held all around Milwaukee, from trails to city streets and beyond.

Of course, the group rides help motivate The Bella Donnas to spend more miles in the saddle, but the benefits of the rides go beyond just distance. Learning how to ride with others is an important skill for cyclists, and members teach newcomers about proper technique and etiquette when riding in a group.

It is both the social and educational aspects that have sealed the deal for Berte, and having a supportive community of women has made all the difference for her. In the six years she’s been with The Bella Donnas, she has lost weight, learned how to ride with clipless pedals, completed triathlons and met her personal record of 70 miles ridden in a single day.

“If you had told me two years ago that I would ride as far as I have, I would have told you that you were out of your mind,” Berte says. But once she made the commitment to try, having other women beside her to encourage and reassure her was what she needed to reach her biking goals.

Imilkowski says the group has evolved far beyond just biking. Bella Donnas have developed close personal bonds; they are bridesmaids at each other’s weddings and godmothers for each other’s children. “The connections made from The Bella Donnas truly permeate into all parts of our lives,” she adds.

About her own growth as a cyclist, Berte says, “Sometimes, it felt like I bit off more than I could chew, but The Bellas were there, saying, ‘If you want to go for something, I’ll be here, and I’ll do it with you.’ What an incredible gift that is.”

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/january/09/ride-women-ride/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/january/09/ride-women-ride/Fri, 09 January 2015 10:53:42 Triumph on the Trails: How One Woman Reclaimed Her Health After CancerAmy Kapphttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/january/06/triumph-on-the-trails-how-one-woman-reclaimed-her-health-after-cancer/We were so deeply touched and inspired by the recently published third video installment of “Life on the Atlanta BeltLine,” which outlines the story of Jenny—wife, mother of twins and courageous individual who regained her health on Atlanta’s Eastside Trail after recovering from breast cancer.

According to the video blog:

“Jenny and her husband initially moved to a neighborhood along the Eastside Trail due to the notable walkability of the community. They soon began a family with the birth of twins, but one year later...they were delivered life-changing news: Jenny was diagnosed with stage 2 triple negative breast cancer. She endured radical surgery and chemotherapy radiation. Once on the road to recovery, she felt the need to reclaim her health.”

On or about Dec. 30, 2014, Ouachita Railroad, Inc. filed for the abandonment of 13.4 miles of track between Lillie in Union Parish, La., and Junction City in Union County, Ark. We are providing this information because it presents an opportunity to develop a real regional asset: a multi-use trail that can accommodate hikers, bikers, equestrians and other appropriate uses.

NEXT STEPS: If this corridor is suitable for trail use, we strongly urge local trail advocates, or an appropriate local, regional or state agency or organization, to take action now. A “boiler plate” letter (found here) can be filed with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) and the abandoning railroad using STB docket number AB-1122 (sub-no. 0x). Filing this letter does not commit its authors to acquire the corridor; it merely gives time to develop a rail-trail proposal and undertake negotiations with the railroad. According to the information we have received, the deadline for filing this letter is Jan. 29, 2015. Even if this deadline is missed, there is probably still time to contact the relevant parties, since the railroad may have experienced a delay in filing all of the paperwork, or the STB may still have jurisdiction over the corridor. However, it is important to take prompt action. The STB posts all abandonment decisions and filings on its website, including the complete filing for this corridor. More information on the rail corridor, including a map, can be found in this filing, or view a clearer map of the approximate route here.

The STB has imposed a $300 filing fee for all railbanking requests. Entities filing a railbanking request may request a fee waiver or reduction, and government agencies will receive an automatic fee waiver. Throughout the process, make sure local government officials and citizen activists are kept informed of the project’s progress. We also recommend contacting your state trails coordinator or your state bicycle/pedestrian coordinator.

All of these individuals are knowledgeable about state laws and resources and may be able to assist your community with this rail-trail project. Also, you may want to contact the abandoning railroad to add your name to their service list.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE: RTC’s website may provide valuable tools as you plan for a rail-trail, including how-to manuals, the Trail-Building Toolbox, our Resource Library and the Trails & Greenways Listserv for trail advocates and professionals. These resources can be found within the “Build Trails” section of our website. If you take advantage of this information and other resources promptly, you will be well on your way to creating a successful rail-trail in your community. For more information, or if you decide to pursue railbanking, please contact our Trail Development Department.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/january/05/notice-upcoming-railroad-abandonment-in-union-county-ark-and-union-parish-la/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2015/january/05/notice-upcoming-railroad-abandonment-in-union-county-ark-and-union-parish-la/Mon, 05 January 2015 16:59:04 What's Your New Year's Trail Resolution? (Here are 28 ideas for 2015!)Katie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/december/23/whats-your-new-years-trail-resolution-here-are-28-ideas-for-2015/In 2015, RTC will celebrate its 28th birthday—and wouldn’t you know it, the New Year is upon us! With that said, we’re pleased to bring you this list of 28 resolutions that we hope help inspire you to get out on the trail and get active.

And, we want to know: What’s your trail resolution for 2015? Pick one (or a few!), or create your own! Then, share it on social media using the hashtag: #TrailResolution (photos are encouraged)! See you on the trail!

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/december/23/whats-your-new-years-trail-resolution-here-are-28-ideas-for-2015/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/december/23/whats-your-new-years-trail-resolution-here-are-28-ideas-for-2015/Tue, 23 December 2014 15:24:41 10 Trail-Inspired New Year's ResolutionsKatie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/december/23/10-trail-inspired-new-years-resolutions/It’s that time again, folks! Take that 2014 calendar off your wall and reflect on the things you’ve achieved this year. For us here at Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, it was chock-full of trail events, new projects and significant milestones.

But we think it’s more important, and more fun, to think about what’s to come! So to help foster more progress in 2015, we bring you these 10 trail-inspired resolutions.

Enjoy, and happy New Year!

1. Lose weight.

It should be no surprise that losing weight and getting fit are top on the list of resolutions for many Americans. A few years ago, Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett pushed weight loss to the top of his city’s priority list. As part of a quality-of-life initiative called MAPS3, Cornett invested in walking and biking infrastructure, and the city’s trail system is now 13 miles in length—and growing! The investment has paid off for residents, who are shedding pounds and hitting the trail in record numbers.

Donating a few hours of your time to help someone else doesn’t seem like too much to ask, right? Consider reaching out to your local trail organization. In many cases, these groups are “fighting the good fight” when it comes to planning, building and maintaining the trails you know and love, and many of them would happily accept your volunteer time and energies. This sure is the case in Pennsylvania, where people are pitching in to keep their trails in tip-top shape. So go ahead and lend a hand!

3. Save money.

You’d be astounded to know how much money you can save by walking or biking to get where you need to go! Consider commuting by bike one day a week, or try shifting a portion of your daily commute to an active mode of transportation. The folks who use the Legacy Parkway Trail just north of Salt Lake City, Utah, sure do reap the benefits! The route parallels a commuter train for part of its length, allowing commuters to squeeze in some exercise, save a few dollars and get to work on time!

4. Eat healthy food.

Trails and community gardens are a natural fit, and in many communities, the two are intertwined. For example, the Richmond Greenway in Richmond, Calif., features not only a trail, but also herb, vegetable and native plant gardens. A true community undertaking, this greenway serves as a place to enjoy open space and also learn about food sourcing and local gardening. Combine a stroll on the trail with your weekly fresh veggie haul; your body will thank you.

Psst…. We’re about to tell you a secret that’s never been shared. Ready? Exercise reduces stress! Can you believe it?! Alright, we know you’ve heard it a million and a half times, but it’s true. Who could be stressed after a ski on New Hampshire’s Presidential Range Rail Trail or a stroll along Florida’s Blountstown Greenway Bike Path? Make a half hour walk a part of your daily routine, and let your stress dissipate as the year chugs on.

6. Learn a new skill.

Do you want to learn how to take the perfect trail photo? How about being able to identify all the wildflowers that bloom along the Wolf River Greenway in Tennessee? Have those fly fisherman wading in the Casselman River caught your eye as you pedal along the Great Allegheny Passage? Now is the perfect time to pursue those interests and transform your curiosity into a new hobby.

7. Reduce your impact.

Rail-trails are the ultimate example of recycling, and so when it comes to reducing one’s impact, we have to give ourselves—and trail supporters everywhere—a big pat on the back. But of course, reducing one’s impact goes far above and beyond building trails. When you’re on the trail, abide by the principles of Leave No Trace. Clean-up days, like the annual event on Connecticut’s Farmington Canal Heritage Trail, are excellent places to pitch in and reduce your impact on the earth.

Lands End Trail in California | Photo by Bryce Hall

8. Join an activity.

Trails support a huge range of activities, from birding to jogging to biking and beyond. So if you’re looking to try something new on your local trail, there’s surely a group of enthusiasts with whom you’ll fall right in line! You could even consider checking out a dual-interest group, like the Paradise Paddlers and peddlers Club on the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail, for example.

9. Spend more time with family and friends.

Community and family are at the heart of the American trail experience. Trails provide safe places for us to teach our kids how to ride without training wheels, a venue to share our common love for the outdoors with loved ones, a perfect excuse for catching up with an old friend. Indiana dad Mark Stosberg knows the connection between trails and family well; he and his wife and children are making adventure cycling on cargo bikes a summer family tradition.

10. Travel more.

Exploring new places—and new trails, to be exact—is a blast, but where should you go? For your next adventure, you might try one of RTC’s Hall of Fame trails. With 27 unique pathways of various lengths scattered across the country to choose from, you’re sure to find one that strikes your fancy. The rail-trail magic is pervasive along these charismatic corridors. We can’t think of a more worthwhile use of those vacation days!

Are the in-laws or weird Uncle Bob getting on your last nerve this holiday season? No problem! Just excuse yourself, and walk your worries away. The rhythm and repetition of exercises that use large muscle groups (e.g., walking and cycling) have a tranquilizing effect on your brain. (It’s called muscular meditation, for anyone who’s curious.) Furthermore, these types of exercises help decrease anxiety and improve sleep, both of which are musts during the holiday season. Aim for at least a half hour every day.

Lose the Blues

Feeling a little Grinch-y? Take advantage of the many health benefits from the little (or lot of) sunshine you get during the winter months, and get outside on a trail for a walk, run or bike ride. This stimulates the production of feel-good serotonin and also helps relieve the blues some people get when the seasons change; the medical term is seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

MOVE-able Feast

Turkey, ham, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, pie—oh my! Yes, even the healthiest among us are probably guilty of eating a bit more—or a lot more—than we should at some point during the holidays. So what to do? Reap the many benefits of exercise, of course! (Are you getting a theme, here?) It may be the last thing you feel like doing when you're stressed and stuffed, but going for a walk, run or bike ride can actually make you feel better. Not only do these activities help burn off some of that excess holiday food, but they can also boost your mood for up to 12 hours. It will help give you that energy boost you need to make it through dinner with all of your relatives, and you’ll also feel a little less guilty about that second (or third) piece of pie!

Be Buzz Free

The only person who should really be working this holiday season is Santa! Try to go tech free for a few hours or even a whole day if you can manage it. Cell phone use and the stress associated with being constantly accessible by call, text and email have been linked to mental health issues (e.g., depression) and sleep disorders. Turn off the cell phone, tablet and laptop, and enjoy spending time with your family and friends without worry.

Find Your Pathway to Fitness

The holiday season can be hectic and stressful—right about now, some of you may be yelling at your computer screen, “That’s all well and good, but where in the name of Rudolph’s red nose can I find a safe, convenient and relaxing place to walk or ride my bike regularly?" Well, I’ve got a present for you, and it’s in the form of my last quick tip of the day. Before you turn off your electronic gadgets, check out TrailLink.com! All you have to do is type in your town or zip code, and the trails will find you! Super easy and fun!

According to a Dec. 12 blog article by WABA Advocacy Coordinator Greg Billing, MARC outfitted two rehabilitated passenger cars to accommodate full-sized bikes. These trains, which will only be available on weekends (at least, for now), will serve as pilots to test the new bike-train design.

Billing states:

With additional state resources, MARC is purchasing new double-decker train cars to increase passenger capacity to meet the demand. With new cars going into service, MARC is rehabilitating their old rolling stock to provide the new bike service. The bike cars can currently carry 16 full-size bicycles, but can be modified to accommodate up to 26 bikes.

It appears that if all goes well, MARC will consider expanding bike service to weekdays and to other lines as well!

This good news for area cyclists comes on the heel of another exciting announcement this past summer, covered in RTC’s TrailBlog in June—that Amtrak would be installing new baggage cars with bike racks on all its long-distance trains between D.C. and Pittsburgh, Pa., creating a new connection for cyclists to access the Great Allegheny Passage and the C&O Canal trail.

There’s a trend forming, and we have to shout out all the local advocates who are creating new and better bike connections in the eastern U.S. We look forward to seeing how this all plays out!

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/december/12/bike-racks-on-marc-trains-oh-yeah/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/december/12/bike-racks-on-marc-trains-oh-yeah/Fri, 12 December 2014 13:19:01 RTC's Trailblazer Society: Experiencing the Impact of TrailsOrhan Beldinghttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/december/11/rtcs-trailblazer-society-experiencing-the-impact-of-trails/It’s a fall Sunday morning, and the sunlight is sifting through the clouds and hills above the Hudson River in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. My colleague and I are standing with several members of RTC’s Trailblazer Society, listening to 2013 Rail-Trail Champion Fred Schaeffer give a rich history of the now famous Walkway Over the Hudson, which we’re standing on.

From atop a park bench, he leads us through a daring story of how, before the renovation, he and his son would venture out across the spindly trestles and crumbling lumber of the then-abandoned Poughkeepsie Bridge to experience the incredible view. This was before the walkway existed. Now, years later, thanks to Fred’s vision and dedicated organizing, the dilapidation is gone—replaced by a solid concrete decking—and the beautiful steel cantilever span and incredible view are safely open to the public.

In Baltimore, Md.'s Druid Hill Park, RTC's Jim Brown talks about the connectivity of the local trail system with a Trailblazer group. | Photo by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy/Orhan Belding

As manager of RTC’s Trailblazer Society (TBS), I’ve gotten to experience several truly special moments like this—and I’m always moved by the personal stories of triumph I hear. TBS members are a special group of leading supporters at RTC, and invitations to Trailblazer bicycle rides are a special benefit that enables them to see firsthand the impact they help make possible.

Rides are hosted several times a year around the country to spotlight outstanding trails and emerging routes, and the people who create them. How does a trail go from vision to reality? What are the roadblocks along the way? How are my membership dollars helping? Trailblazer rides answer these questions and more by bringing in local trail advocates like Schaeffer, who discuss the histories of these pathways and how they have become ingrained in their community.

On that beautiful fall day, our group covered three outstanding segments of trail in the Hudson Valley, but what made this outing really special was the “peek behind the curtain” of the trail-building process—the politics, activism, choices on materials, community responses and local impact.

We heard from Bill Steinhaus, Dutchess County executive during the development of both the Walkway and adjoining Dutchess County Rail Trail. Talking of the Dutchess, Steinhaus shared how a route once planned to be a road became the active trail that has boosted property values and quality of life. We also connected with founders of the neighboring Hudson Valley Rail Trail (located west of the Walkway in Ulster County), Ray and Claire Constantino, about how their trail was funded largely by a fortuitous real estate opportunity, and brought eagerly anticipated recreational and transportation options for locals and many visitors. And we saw how the rail-trail sparked more local pride and preservation of its heritage, being among the first to visit the newly restored Hopewell Depot at the trail's end.

The experience provided deep connections to the work that went into creating these rail-trails and an understanding of RTC’s role in these projects and their future.

Trailblazer rides are one of RTC’s key programs for connecting our leading supporters to the planning, creativity, dedication, resources and people behind landmark trails around the country. Past rides include an exploration of some of the Circuit’s urban segments in Philadelphia, Pa., a bike cruise through the growing El Rio Trail in Boca Raton, Fla., and a trip to explore the new connections for the urban trail network in Baltimore, Md.

Rides for 2015 are currently being planned!

It’s a privilege to be able to visit these sites and hear from local activists who drive and maintain such valuable routes. These trails are a legacy for the individuals who fought for them, the communities that use them daily and the generous, forward-thinking folks who support this work financially. We hope our members feel that in every mile. I hope we’ll have a chance to visit a trail near you soon.

If you are interested in learning more about RTC’s Trailblazer Society, please visit RTC’s Trailblazer Society Web page or email Orhan Belding at orhan@railstotrails.org.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/december/11/rtcs-trailblazer-society-experiencing-the-impact-of-trails/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/december/11/rtcs-trailblazer-society-experiencing-the-impact-of-trails/Thu, 11 December 2014 16:56:09 Poll Reveals Broad Support for Federal Investment in Biking and WalkingKevin Millshttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/december/10/poll-reveals-broad-support-for-federal-investment-in-biking-and-walking/For those of you who have ever worked to get a trail, greenway, bike path or sidewalk built, you know that it is no easy task.

But of all the obstacles our community faces, the one that poses the greatest threat to trails comes from elected officials who claim that investing in biking and walking infrastructure is a frivolous use of public funds.

In recent years, biking and walking infrastructure has become a popular target for some federal lawmakers looking to gain political points by highlighting their fiscal conservatism. The perceived political wisdom was that their constituents felt the same way—that federal funds should not be spent on biking and walking.

But no one had asked them. So we did.

In September, RTC engaged leading Republican and Democratic pollsters to find out what likely 2016 voters for both parties really thought about the federal role in encouraging active transportation. The survey reached a proportion of Republican and Democratic voters that matched the national voting population, and was rigorously designed and vetted to ensure scientific accuracy.

The remarkable findings serve as a warning to opponents of federal walking and biking investment that such a political strategy will put them at odds with the people they represent.

We now know that four times as many voters favor increasing or maintaining current levels of federal investment in walking and biking paths as decreasing them (74 percent – 19 percent) and that strong majorities support this funding regardless of political affiliation.

The poll findings will be an important tool for trail builders and supporters as we continue to fight back attacks to trail funding.

With a new federal transportation bill due to be negotiated in 2015, it is vitally important that the messages contained in these poll findings are broadly heard.

We encourage you to download the poll findings and additional resources below and to share them with supporters, opponents, decision-makers and the general public in your community.

The Poll Summary – A handy two-page PDF with key findings and implications for policy-making

http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/december/10/poll-reveals-broad-support-for-federal-investment-in-biking-and-walking/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/december/10/poll-reveals-broad-support-for-federal-investment-in-biking-and-walking/Wed, 10 December 2014 14:14:24 RTC's Year in Review: Highlights from 2014Katie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/december/10/rtcs-year-in-review-highlights-from-2014/Yes, it was quite a year for RTC and the rail-trail movement.

Of course, we saw our fair share of challenges, but we also saw our work bear fruit; indeed, our collaborative energies helped make possible some amazing milestones for trail initiatives across the country. It’s impossible to talk about them all, but for a little year-end inspiration, here are 10 highlights:

2. Gotta Count ‘Em All – Launch of T-MAP

Seems like it would be much easier to justify building trails if you could prove how many people use them daily…and if you could measure that impact in terms of dollars, right? Well, T-MAP (Trail Modeling and Assessment Platform) is aiming to do just that, and more. Launched in June 2014 by RTC and a bunch of partners, this three-year initiative will arm trail planners with the tools they need to make the case for more—and better connected—biking and walking networks. How cool is that?

3. Trains + Bikes = Oh Yeah! – Bike Racks on Amtrak?

Talk about a busy summer, Amtrak announced in June that it’s installing new baggage cars with bike racks in all its long-distance trains. Soon, folks will be able to hop on the train to start their next trail adventure without having to baggage check their bikes! Amtrak initially indicated that the new baggage cars would be ready by the end of this year, but they’ve been a bit quiet on the topic since then. We eagerly await an update.

4. An Up-and-Coming Star – Preserving Missouri’s Rock Island Line

In July, RTC was presented with the chance to save a 145-mile segment of inactive rail corridor along the old Rock Island Line in Missouri. We quickly mobilized—with our efforts culminating in a railbanking campaign in which more than 11,000 supporters made their voices heard! The massive groundswell of public support was a success, and the owners have begun the railbanking process. A major victory!

5. Florida Residents Make Their Voices Heard – A Fight for Trails

It was a huge year for trails in the Sunshine State. Governor Rick Scott approved a budget that made savvy investments in the state’s trails, including the first phase of funding to begin work on the Coast-to-Coast Connector—a project to link existing trails in a 275-mile network from St. Petersburg to Titusville. It was big year for RTC’s supporters in the state, too, who fought back an attack by a Florida senator in May to slash trail funding. And in early December, more than 1,500 Floridians signed a petition calling for a rail-with-trail to be included in the All Aboard Florida high-speed rail project, dang it! The folks in Florida love trails, and in 2014, they made it clear that they won’t be ignored!

6. A New Jersey Tune Up – RTC’s Pop-Up Bike Clinics

Over the past two years, RTC’s pop-up bike clinic team has seen a flurry of action, fixing more than 600 bicycles for children and families in Camden, N.J. Our own Akram Abed, project manager, tells us that this summer was the most successful yet—filled to the brim with bike repairs, community rides and lots of watermelon. The team isn’t just tuning up bikes, they are making communities more mobile. Thanks for getting folks rolling again, and keep up the good work!

8. Welcome to the Club! – Rail-Trail Hall of Fame

As the trees of southern Virginia shone in their fall foliage, the trail community celebrated the 27th inductee into the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame: the Virginia Creeper Trail! This trail totally rocks; aside from being incredibly scenic and a great ride (check out Rails to Trails' Winter 2015 cover story), the Creeper is an economic powerhouse for its local communities. People can’t say enough good things about the trail—and we agree. Its impact is truly legendary.

9. What a Champ! – Honoring Our Rail-Trail Champions

In October, longtime RTC in-house trail champion, Marianne Wesley Fowler, was honored with a 2014 Doppelt Family Rail-Trail Champion award! Over the past two-and-a-half decades, Marianne’s work has permeated—and elevated—every part of the rail-trail movement, from protecting critical federal funds to getting now-legendary projects off the ground. Hear Marianne share some amazing stories in Rails to Trails'2014 Green Issue.

10. Powering Ahead – The Circuit and the Power of 32+

Some of you are probably familiar with the Circuit, a proposed 750-mile urban trail network in the Greater Philadelphia region that, when complete, will be a transportation game-changer, connecting people to work, school, jobs, parks, etc. This year, RTC recently stepped up the game and took a major leadership role to engage the Circuit’s many surrounding communities and make sure everyone has access to the trail system, which is currently 300+ miles strong, and growing.

As it happens, RTC also took a leadership role this year in a 1,400-mile off-road trail network being developed in America’s rustbelt, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) and a number of other major supporters. This work is part of the Power of 32+ initiative, which has an ambitious goal of increasing the financial, political and intellectual power of 52 counties in Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and New York. FYI: When complete, the off-road system will be the largest destination trail network in the country—pretty awesome.

Psst…come closer. We’ve found New Hampshire’s best-kept secret—the Presidential Range Rail Trail—and winter is the perfect time to visit it. With a long snowy season, generally running between mid-December and early April, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy its spectacular views on a pair of Nordic skis or snowshoes. Along the 18-mile trail, the range of snow-topped peaks named after famed American presidents make a striking contrast against a crystal blue sky. Buffered by balsam fir trees, the trail even smells like Christmas.

“All the rail-trails in New Hampshire have great scenic value,” says Chris Gamache, chief of the New Hampshire Bureau of Trails, which manages the rail-trail. “But some of the best views are from this trail.”

Dog sledding on the rail-trail | Photo by Brian Ruel

Occupying a historically important east-west passage through the White Mountains, the trail offers a glimpse of the distant past. Paleoindian hunters who lived here just after the last Ice Age (about 12,000 years ago) watched for game in the valley below; remnants of their encampments and the makings of stone spear points and knives have been found in the area. Among the rugged peaks, Mt. Washington stands out at 6,288 feet, New England’s highest summit. Railroad buffs may want to check out the Mount Washington Cog Railway, which scales its steep slope and boards at Bretton Woods, less than 20 miles from the trail’s west end.

“It has a Rocky Mountain West Coast feel,” says Jim Brown, trail development manager at Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, who estimates that he’s traveled on hundreds of trails in this country and abroad. “It’s the prettiest trail I’ve ever been on.”

For those who have enjoyed perhaps many rail-trails before, the chance to be whisked along behind a team of powerful and exuberant sled dogs offers a vastly new and different experience. Adjacent to the trail, the Muddy Paw Sled Dog Kennel in Jefferson is home to more than a hundred dogs, many of which are rescued “second-chance” animals. The organization offers guided tours down the rail-trail and other local trails. Ranging from 2- to 50-mile treks at a pace of about 3 to 10 miles an hour, the experience is exhilarating, but still comfortable for most ages and abilities.

Moose in Whitefield | Photo by Daniel Gaedeke

In addition to dog sledding, frequent moose sightings give the trail an almost Alaskan feel. (Canada is a nearby neighbor a little more than an hour away.) The Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge on the trail’s west end offers a good bet for seeing the majestic animals; its ponds and wetlands offer the type of habitat they favor, though you’re most likely to see them in the spring or fall. The town of Gorham even offers guided moose tours; check the town’s website for more information.

Gorham is also a hub for snowmobiling, which is permitted on the rail-trail. Two major snowmobile routes—one going north-south, the other heading east-west—connect in town, offering continuous riding in all directions. With 7,000 miles of snowmobile trails in the state, the activity is a major tourism generator. On a local level, snowmobiling provides an economic boost for the towns along the rail-trail, and the annual registration fees for the vehicles also cover the trail’s ongoing maintenance costs.

“It’s a real way of life out here,” says Brian Ruel, president of the Presidential Range Riders, a snowmobile club that rides the rail-trail and provides grooming and volunteer upkeep on it. “The rail-trail definitively brings more business into town, because it makes it easy to get from point A to point B. Lancaster and Conway are just a quick ride away. It’s a beautiful asset to the area.”

Ruel notes that he frequently sees cross-country skiers and dog sledders on the rail-trail and that the user groups coexist peacefully.

Cross-country skier and snowmobilers on the trail in Jefferson | Photo courtesy NH Bureau of Trails

“We all recognize the need for a healthy economy here,” says David Govatski, president of Friends of Pondicherry, a local group that volunteers on the trails in the Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge, including the rail-trail. “We work closely with the snowmobile clubs. They help us and we help them. It’s a cooperative effort.”

While the trail is two to three hours from major cities such as Portland and Boston, the communities along the route, though small—the largest is home to about 10,000 people—offer all the amenities travelers need: lodging, restaurants, entertainment and shopping. Gorham, in particular, which blossomed as a railroad town in the mid-1800s, exudes warmth and a quaint New England beauty. Brown says the community doesn’t have a forced touristy vibe, calling it “legitimately charming.” When he and his friends visited the trail this past August, they liked the town so much that they decided to stay another day.

A block from Main Street, a refurbished railway station dating back to 1907 houses the Gorham Railroad Museum, offering a plethora of exhibits and photographs showcasing the region’s history. The rail-trail is built along a line once used by the Boston & Maine Railroad to haul lumber and paper between Whitefield and Berlin, the latter of which, perfectly situated on the Androscoggin River in a heavily forested region, became a thriving mill town. The community still goes by the moniker “The City That Trees Built.” The state bought the rail corridor in 1996; by then, the rails and ties were already gone, and the corridor was primed for conversion to a trail.

One relic from the rail-trail’s past life, the Snyder Brook Bridge in Randolph, is currently undergoing repair. Just this month, the 1918 structure—one of only a handful of Howe pony truss bridges remaining in North America—was lifted from its crumbling abutments so that work could begin. The bridge has an unusual design with raised wooden side panels that give the bridge an appearance of a long box with no lid. The renovated bridge will return for use next summer.

One thing holding the rail-trail back from being truly embraced as a popular destination is its lack of easy connections to the communities that surround it. The rail-trail is remote, rural and removed from town centers. To reach downtown amenities, travelers will need to take a short jaunt on roads. Thankfully, the roads are wide and the traffic volume is low, but there are no bike lanes, and there is limited directional signage.

Brown remembers having trouble finding the trail and seeing homemade signboards along it directing visitors to local restaurants and businesses. The desire for connection is there and the opportunities for the rail-trail feel palpable. “I think there’s a ton of potential for it,” he says.

RTC's Jim Brown on the trail in August 2014 with the Presidential Range in the background | Photo by Meredith Suniewick

“We’re trying to improve it and make it a recreational resource,” says Govatski. “It’s a gem in the rough. It would be easy to upgrade the trail, but trying to find the funding is the tough part.”

In the warmer months, leafy trees and verdant undergrowth meet to encompass travelers in lush greenness, a gurgling Moose River follows at your side for much of the way, and the marshlands are bright with wildflowers and loud with bird chatter. The trail’s surface—now clear of snow—is predominantly gravel, best-suited for mountain bikes but also frequented by hikers and equestrians. Those looking to enjoy this serene, natural experience may want to avoid the stretch of trail (about six miles) between Gorham and Berlin; during the summer, this section at the eastern tip of the trail is heavily used by ATV riders, though they are not permitted on the rest of the trail.

“We’re working on making this part of a regional effort to increase bike tourism,” says Gamache.

“For example, we want to connect the rail-trail to Moose Brook State Park and all the mountain biking trails there for summer bicyclists. It’s only about 300 yards away, but you have to jump on a paved road to get there.”

The trail’s proximity to state parks, the White Mountain National Forest and a national wildlife refuge provides boundless opportunities for outdoor recreation. Paddling down the Androscoggin River, hiking the Appalachian Trail (which lies just a few miles away) or exploring the dozens of footpaths and mountain biking paths that crisscross the surrounding mountains can add variety and adventure to a trail trip and increase the rail-trail’s allure.

“I went to the University of New Hampshire and spent four years hiking, biking and skiing in the state, but never heard of this trail,” says Brown. “And to think we almost gave up on it!”

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/december/09/new-hampshire-s-presidential-range-rail-trail/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/december/09/new-hampshire-s-presidential-range-rail-trail/Tue, 09 December 2014 12:57:48 Stewards of Lookout Mountain: Preserving a Tennessee LegacyKatie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/december/08/stewards-of-lookout-mountain-preserving-a-tennessee-legacy/A unique partnership is being forged on a Tennessee mountain, both above and below ground. The Lookout Mountain Conservancy, a nonprofit land trust based just outside of Chattanooga, and Ruby Falls, a commercial business, are teaming up to celebrate and preserve the natural area they both call home.

Why are these two groups working together? The answer is simple. They share Lookout Mountain and want to ensure their home is taken care of in a responsible manner. And a major part of the equation: the Guild Hardy Trail, a rail-trail that winds its way up the mountain, taking the place of a once-functioning rail corridor built by the Lookout Mountain Railway Company.

The old railroad is in fact the instigator for many events that have unfolded on Lookout Mountain. Built in 1889, it was originally intended as a way to transport guests to the summit’s two hotels. In addition to being carved into the mountain’s flanks, however, construction also resulted in the sealing off of the natural entrance to the caverns below.

Ruby Falls | Photo by Helen Wells

A few Chattanooga investors—who did not wish to watch the caves disappear with one simple decision by the railroad—banded together to purchase a large segment of Lookout Mountain. In 1928, as they began to drill an elevator shaft to access the caves from a different perspective, they discovered the true gem: an underground waterfall, cascading 145 feet down, contained fully within the heart of the mountain itself. Investor Leo Lambert—who had explored the waterfall for 17 hours on that day of discovery—promptly named it after his wife, Ruby, and decided that it would be a centerpiece of Lookout Mountain’s commercial undertakings.

Although Ruby Falls has changed hands a few times, it is up and running today. The lasting power of the railroad was considerably weaker, and the rail company eventually stopped service along the line. Decades later, the rail corridor got a makeover as a multi-use trail, and now the Guild Hardy Trail is used by walkers, cyclists and nature enthusiasts wanting to soak in the natural wonders above ground.

The partnership between Ruby Falls and Lookout Mountain Conservancy is a symbiotic relationship that serves both groups, and their camaraderie is worth noting. In fact, the trail runs right through the parking lot of Ruby Falls, but instead of this being a source of conflict, both groups see it as an advantage. “We bring each other users,” says Robyn Carlton, president of Lookout Mountain Conservancy. “We help each other, and we give each other recognition,” she explains.

The preservation of Lookout Mountain is high on the list of priorities for Hugh Morrow, president of Ruby Falls. Working with the conservancy allows the business to ensure that the surrounding landscape stays as intact as possible.

Most of the neighboring land is federally owned or is owned by the land trust. Morrow says that while some folks see that as a limiting factor—it means that further expansion is nearly impossible—he sees it as an asset. “Conserving the land on Lookout Mountain allows us to maintain the natural feel around Ruby Falls,” explains Morrow. “It’s a natural feature, and it’s only fitting that it’s in a natural setting.”

The friendly rapport between the two groups was born from their mutual interest in preserving the resources on Lookout Mountain, and the relationship is stronger than ever. “Ruby Falls has been a fabulous partner,” says Carlton. “They are focusing on their role as a natural resource and investing in conservation and preservation,” she says. And because those values line up so closely with the work being done by the Lookout Mountain Conservancy, the two groups are a natural fit.

For Morrow, the partnership is more than just a business tactic. Conservation and preservation are intrinsically tied to being good stewards and good neighbors. “We must honor it and take care of it,” he says. “The mountain has value, not just on the surface but [in] depth as well. We want to be good neighbors to the trail, and to do that, we know that we must preserve the mountain the best we can.”

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/december/08/stewards-of-lookout-mountain-preserving-a-tennessee-legacy/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/december/08/stewards-of-lookout-mountain-preserving-a-tennessee-legacy/Mon, 08 December 2014 14:15:40 How to Winterize Your Trail AdventureKatie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/december/04/how-to-winterize-your-trail-adventure/The air has been crisp for weeks, and you’re no longer surprised when you walk out and pull that cool inhale into your chest. The first of the season flurries has fallen. And as much as it hurts, you’ve resigned yourself to the fact that your bike won’t get to see much action for the time being.

So what’s next? Just because your bike is in the garage doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy the trail! Here are five ways to keep your tail on the trail during the colder seasons.

Snow Biking

Fat bike | Photo courtesy Hugger Industries

Snow biking, or fat biking, is a relatively new phenomenon with an interesting inception story. It’s a sport that’s catching on quickly, especially in mountain communities in the western U.S., and while Colorado, Idaho and Montana are arguably stealing the show when it comes to biking the snow, there are some other great options out there!

Katy Trail: This 238-mile trail is a member of RTC’s Rail-Trail Hall of Fame, and for good reason! The Katy Trail is a gem of Missouri and is one of the longest rail-trails in the country. With a layer of snow, it would be the perfect multi-day snow bike adventure.

Chase Trail: Want to revisit snow biking Alaskan roots without getting too far off the beaten path? The 14-mile Chase Trail, connecting the communities of Talkeetna and Chase, is a perfect solution. The first five miles follow the Alaska Railroad, after which the trail leaves the tracks and enters a thick spruce–birch forest!

Cross-Country Skiing

Whether it’s a shuffle in the woods or a skate ski flying over groomed trails, there is no better way to immerse yourself in winter than a journey on skis.

Wood River Trails: The communities of Sun Valley, Ketchum and Hailey, tucked away in Idaho’s Wood River Valley, are connected by a world-class trail system used by locals and visitors alike. In the winter months, split your time between cross-country skiing in the valley, downhill skiing on Bald Mountain and backcountry skiing in the surrounding Sawtooth Mountains.

Bizz Johnson National Recreation Trail: Treat yourself to a trip through the Susan River Canyon in Northeast California. Eighteen and a half miles of this 25-mile-long trail are open in the winter for cross-country skiing. From historic tunnels and trestles to the stunning Susan River itself, there is a lot to see along the way.

Snowshoeing

Photo courtesy Lassen National Park

For the walking enthusiasts, snowshoeing is a natural “next step” when the winter weather hits. A pair of snowshoes and a desire to hit your favorite trail are practically all you need for a successful outing.

For example, here are two great rail-trails that are perfect contenders for a fun on-foot excursion:

Devil’s River State Trail: The best of the rural Midwest is on display along this 14-mile trail. Just south of Green Bay, Wis., the pathway connects the towns of Denmark, Maribel, Francis Creek and Kossuth, traveling through scenic farmland and woodland and over railroad trestles and river crossings.

Mineral Belt Trail: Looking for a high-altitude adventure? Look no further than this 12-mile trail in the mountains of Colorado. The Mineral Belt Trail does a loop through the historical mining town of Leadville and offers spectacular views of the Sawatch and Mosquito mountain ranges.

Snowmobiling

Some trails allow motorized travel—and for snowmobile enthusiasts in many states, the winter brings great opportunities:

Soo Line Trail – Southern Route: Also known as the Soo Line South ATV Trail, this is a favorite with Minnesota ATV enthusiasts and snowmobilers. The converted rail-trail runs for 105.6 miles in between Royalton and the Minnesota–Wisconsin state line east of Pleasant Valley.

Ammonoosuc Rail Trail: Winding along the Ammonoosuc River in western New Hampshire is this 19-mile trail. Don’t miss the covered bridge in Bath, built in 1832, or the restored Lisbon Depot and museum.

However you choose to spend the winter months, don’t let your love for the trail diminish as the snow falls. Instead, get out and enjoy a different way to travel, or simply curl up with a trail book and plot your next warmer-weather adventure!

2. Cardinal Greenway

Delaware, Grant, Henry, Randolph and Wayne counties

The Cardinal Greenway is the longest rail-trail in Indiana, boasting more than 60 miles through Indiana countryside that may well have inspired the lyrics to “America the Beautiful”: spacious skies, fruited plains and amber waves of grain provide much of the backdrop. Gorgeous!

3. Indianapolis Cultural Trail

Marion County

This innovative nine-mile trail is redefining how urban trails are envisioned, constructed and integrated into their communities. With a strong focus on green infrastructure, public art, and the city’s cultural and historic roots, the Indianapolis Cultural Trail is most definitely a trail of note.

4. Monon Trail

Monon Trail | Photo by Barry Ladwig

Hamilton and Marion counties

Stretching north from Indianapolis, the Monon Trail is the ultimate example of an urban transportation corridor. The trail stitches together neighborhoods, recreational facilities and schools between the city and the northern suburb of Westfield. The 19-mile trail is also a member of RTC’s Rail-Trail Hall of Fame!

5. Erie and Lackawanna Trail

Lake County

Spacious and scenic are two words that fittingly describe the Erie and Lackawanna Trail. It’s an “urban escape route” from the cities and suburbs of northwest Indiana, leading trail enthusiasts into the more rustic part of the Hoosier State. At 17 miles in length, this trail is sure to satisfy your appetite for the great outdoors.

B&O Trail | Photo by Diana Virgil

6. B&O Trail

Hendricks County

The B&O Trail has a long and storied past, and while only 3.1 miles are currently constructed, this trail will be a major route west from Indianapolis, acting as a spine for a system of trails that will expand into the rural reaches of Indiana.

7. Nickel Plate Trail

Fulton, Howard and Miami counties

What makes the Nickel Plate Trail so special, you ask? For some, it’s the thick maple forests, especially during the autumn glow. Others embrace the trail when it is cloaked in snow, a wintery dream for cross-country skiers. You’ll have to visit the 35-mile trail to decide for yourself!

8. Panhandle Pathway

Cass and Pulaski counties

The spectacular 21-mile Panhandle Pathway passes through bucolic Midwestern farmland, which seems to stretch across the horizon. Trail users will experience a unique and dramatic vista less than one mile south of the Winamac trailhead, where the trail crosses the Tippecanoe River.

9. Pennsy Trail

Hancock and Marion counties

B-Line Trail in Bloomington, Ind. | Photo by Mark Stosberg

The Pennsy Trail, just east of Indianapolis, is closing in on 10 miles in length, but its current mileage is only a hint to what it will become. Plans call for the trail’s three open segments to be connected and incorporated into the proposed, 150-mile National Road Heritage Trail.

10. B-Line Trail

Monroe County

The B-Line Trail is a gem of Bloomington, Ind. This college town, home to Indiana University, fully embraces and celebrates the three-mile trail, and even sponsors fitness stations along the path. Students, residents and visitors agree that the B-Line is an asset to Bloomington!

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/december/01/top-10-trails-in-indiana/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/december/01/top-10-trails-in-indiana/Mon, 01 December 2014 17:00:00 What Could Be: Visionary Thinking Builds the B&O TrailKatie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/25/what-could-be-visionary-thinking-builds-the-bo-trail/When Diana Virgil, president of the B&O Trail Association, first started on the B&O Trail in Indiana back in 1992, she had a clear vision of what could be. But, like many big thinkers, she was a little before her time, and resistance to her trail vision was standard. In fact, she believes she probably had more opponents than supporters during those beginning years! “I would get cussed out all the time in the beginning,” she says. “Folks were not too hot about the idea. People had concerns—mainly based in fear of the unknown,” she explains.

Virgil would go to conferences and hear about great trails across the country, but upon her arrival home, the resounding opinion was that Indiana was different, and for some reason, the state could never be home to a successful trail system.

Lucky for the folks in the Hoosier State, Virgil didn’t listen.

East bridge of the B&O Trail | Photo by Diana Virgil

Fourteen years later, the vision of the B&O Trail is becoming a reality as the former 65-mile Baltimore and Ohio Railroad corridor is slowly but surely transforming into a showcase trail for the state of Indiana. Currently, 3.1 miles of the trail are paved and open, but many more miles, trailheads and bridges are in various parts of the trail development pipeline. When complete, the trail will be a practical and scenic non-motorized superhighway extending into the rural reaches of four counties to the west of Indianapolis.

And the trail can’t be built fast enough for the “trail converts” of the Hoosier State.

According to Richard Vonnegut, vice chair of the Hoosier Rails to Trails Council, the B&O Trail has great support from the community as a whole and from individual citizens. “The trail is developing its own support system, because the public just loves it,” he says. “Communities are seeing the benefit of the trail, even though it’s early on in the process.”

That’s not to say that the shift came easily, and the B&O Trail certainly isn’t immune to the struggles of land rights issues that accompany many trail development projects. But the change of attitude over the last decade and a half has been helped by prominent figures in Indiana, most notably Governor Mitch Daniels who, in 2008, dedicated $19 million for 28 Indiana trails. The governor’s involvement with and prioritization of trails helped shift the discussion, says Virgil, and contributed to the change in people’s attitudes about the value of trails.

A framework of trails is being created, says Vonnegut, a trifecta of trails branching out from the city of Indianapolis. To the north, the Monon Trail extends more than 18 miles. The Pennsy Trail shoots 10 miles to the east, and the B&O Trail is the integral spine that stretches west.

The big picture for Indianapolis absolutely includes the B&O, he says, because it is these spines that will create the framework for more trails in the future. Spurs to other towns and connector trails to smaller communities will rely on the B&O as the backbone of the system.

It’s the concept of connectivity that has captured people’s interest and support. In many ways, the framework is an invitation to join Virgil’s vision from years ago about what could be.

“It’s been a major attitude change,” says Virgil. “It’s taken a considerable amount of explaining and convincing, and yes, there were skeptics…but if you stick with it long enough, skeptics become trail lovers.”

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/25/what-could-be-visionary-thinking-builds-the-bo-trail/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/25/what-could-be-visionary-thinking-builds-the-bo-trail/Tue, 25 November 2014 17:31:47 10 Great Biking Moments in MoviesAmy Kapphttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/25/10-great-biking-moments-in-movies/Movie watching is a Thanksgiving tradition in America, and bike riding is a daily tradition at RTC and in many households across the country. Therefore, we’re pleased to bring you these—10 great biking moments in movies (in order of release).

Many of these films remind us of just how much we have to be thankful for: friendships, family, love and our ability to overcome fierce obstacles and tragedies. And while we don’t endorse the fact that in many of these movies, you don’t see helmets, they still show us that when we help each other, great things can happen.

Happy reading…and happy turkey day!(Caution: some spoilers)

1. “Wizard of Oz” 1939 – I’ll get you my pretty.

When it comes to active transportation, Almira Gulch (aka the Wicked Witch of the west) was the real deal. True, she wanted to destroy Toto, and later Dorothy, but she sure did appreciate the virtues of biking to get around her rural Kansas community—and in full-length dress. And who can forget when bike becomes broom?

Almira Gulch from "Wizard of Oz" - 1939

2. “Breaking Away” 1979 – Cutters!

Lead character Dave in this classic had a dream—several, really: to win the race, to get the girl and to be Italian. And one could say he achieves all three (more or less). The movie culminates with Dave and his three best pals, Mike, Cyril and Moocher—lovable townies (or “cutters” as they’re called because of the local stone quarry)—determined to prove themselves against some snobs from the local college at the Little 500 university bike race. And darn it if a really-exhausted-by-the-end Dave and his besties don’t succeed.

3. “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” 1982 – Phone home.

This sci-fi masterpiece had a lot of emotionally charged moments, but the best just might be when Elliot, his brother and their friends are lifted into the sky and across a full moon as they pedal their hearts out in an effort to get E.T. home. Want some reel bike inspiration from your childhood? Check out the trailer.

4. “Karate Kid” 1984 – Miyagi Turbo

We were all incensed when teenaged underdog Daniel is harassed (unprovoked) by a bunch of bullies while riding his bike home from dinner in this, the first of possibly one of the greatest “you can do it” trilogies of all time—after which, in a fit of anger, he throws the damaged machine into the dumpster. But later, when Daniel finds his bike fixed up and good as new by handyman Mr. Miyagi, our faith in humanity is renewed.

5. “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure” 1985 – The stars at night…

When protagonist Pee-wee’s amazing red bike is stolen by a spoiled neighbor—what’s set in motion is a cross-country adventure of a lifetime. This includes stops at the Alamo, an outlaw motorcycle club and Warner Bro.’s studios, as well as a bizarre meeting with a trucker named Marge. Luckily, things work out better for Pee-wee than they did for poor Marge! (Actor Reubens ran into some questionable circumstances, later, but never-the-less, the movie remains an iconic biking film.)

6. “Goonies” 1985 – Hey…you…guys!

We’ve got to shout out one of our favorite school-kid biker gangs of the big screen (Mikey, Chunk, Mouth and Data), who don’t let being from the wrong side of the tracks stop them from getting where they need to go (including a pirate ship) on two wheels. The fact that older brother Brandon steals a little girl’s training wheels is, ah hem, a different story.

7. “Now and Then” 1995 – Oh my darlin’

In this coming-of-age flick, we get to watch our favorite gang of preteen bike-around-town gal pals (Roberta, Teeny, Samantha and Chrissy) as they show they’re a force to be reckoned with, taking on the Wormer brothers, saving for a treehouse and trying to solve a mystery of paranormal proportions—all while dealing with the challenges of being young. And we just love the song-on-bike scene.

8. “Life Is Beautiful” 1998 – Buongiorno, Principessa!

A heartwarming and heartbreaking mixture of whimsy, wonder, sadness and tragedy, this Italian-language classic has it all. The Chaplin-esque charms of the main character, Guido Orefice, make comedy gold out of two-wheeled chaos. We particularly love the scene where he “borrows” a bike to escape from yet another pending disaster and ends up crashing into the love of his life and future wife, Dora. “Buongiorno, Principessa!”

9. “Rising from Ashes” 2012 – Cycling is suffering.

When cycling legend Jock Boyer moved to Africa to help a group of young men pursue their dream of a national biking team, he knew there would be major obstacles, but nothing came close to the traumatic psychological effects Team Rwanda faced as they dealt with the scars of growing up during one of the world’s most devastating genocides. But as we see in this documentary, the team perseveres, becoming a powerful international symbol of purpose and hope.

10. “The Giver” 2014 – Thank you for your childhood.

Despite the alarming nature of the world created in this dystopian, it is great to see the bicycle receive top billing as a transportation mode, even so much as becoming a ceremonial rite of passage for the young, similar to a driver’s license today. It’s a symbol of independence and an emblem of mobility in one’s community, and we have to agree.

We know there are a lot more great biking moments in movies and film! Let us know your favorites.

Contributors: Katie Harris, Jake Lynch, Brian Gerhardstein

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/25/10-great-biking-moments-in-movies/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/25/10-great-biking-moments-in-movies/Tue, 25 November 2014 16:00:00 The Race to Fund Maintenance in IndianaLeeann Sinpatanasakulhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/20/the-race-to-fund-maintenance-in-indiana/There is a race going on in the great state of Indiana—and it’s not 200 loops around a track. It’s a race to take care of some of the state’s most treasured assets: their trails.

Trails have long been popular with residents who know that they provide a safe, fun and healthy way to travel, but in the past few years, the state government has begun to realize the importance of trails, too, and has jumped on board to promote them. Working to bring trails closer to the public, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources reports that their goal to put Hoosier residents within a 15-minute drive of a trail facility is 97 percent complete!

With new trails comes a need for maintenance funding to keep them open and running smoothly. In March, Governor Mike Pence approved a Recreational Trail Maintenance Fund—another sign of the state’s growing commitment to trails in response to public demand.

Photo by Mark Stosberg

However, there’s a catch. Currently, the fund is like an empty piggy bank with no revenue source! Dedicated trail lovers and trail groups like the Greenways Foundation are working with the legislature to find a solution to take care of the trails Hoosiers know and love. Indeed, Indiana is racing to catch up to its regional Midwest neighbors, who already employ a variety of methods to fund maintenance.

So how are other states filling that piggy bank?

In Illinois, the Bicycle Path Grant Program, which can be used for trail building and maintenance, is funded by a portion of vehicle registration fees, including from all-terrain vehicles. In Wisconsin, the purchase of a State Trails Pass for some trails is required for certain activities that are more damaging to trails, the proceeds of which go toward funding maintenance. In Michigan, a bottle bill—where you can reclaim your empty soda cans for a 5 or 10 cent refund—helps encourage recycling, and a portion of the unclaimed deposits fund maintenance of Michigan’s extensive trail system.

Indiana is taking its cues from other Midwest states as it strives to improve its own trail system. Could it try a State Trails Pass like Wisconsin? Or dedicate a portion of existing fees like in Illinois?

Currently, Hoosier trail advocates are looking into a bottle bill similar to Michigan. In other states with bottle bills, these laws have been tried-and-true methods to increase recycling, which keeps valuable recyclables out of landfills, off streets and out of waterways. Even the unclaimed deposits can add up to millions of dollars each year, with a portion of that going back to the public to fund environmental programs such as the building and maintenance of trails and greenways. Could this important bill be the answer to Indiana’s trail maintenance revenue?

The state has already shown an important commitment to trails, first by bringing trails closer to Hoosier residents and then by gearing up to establish a maintenance fund. This spring, the legislature will look at a number of solutions for trail maintenance revenue. They have carried the torch this far; now it’s time to enter the next leg of the race for Indiana’s trails!

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/20/the-race-to-fund-maintenance-in-indiana/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/20/the-race-to-fund-maintenance-in-indiana/Thu, 20 November 2014 17:41:27 Positive Peer Pressure: Indy Earn-a-Bike Program Teaches Bike (and Life) SkillsKatie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/18/positive-peer-pressure-indy-earn-a-bike-program-teaches-bike-and-life-skills/The first two rules of Freewheelin’ Community Bikes’ Earn-a-Bike program have nothing to do with bikes.

Show up.

Show up on time.

On the outset, this might be confusing for a program that is centered around bike maintenance and repair skills, but Free Wheelin’ Community Bikes (FWCB) has a secret: Maintenance skills aren’t the only thing on the agenda.

Based in Indianapolis, Ind., FWCB is a nonprofit ​ ​that uses bicycles to “bring out the best in people and their community.” Existing for seven years—with a formal curriculum in place for the past three—the program serves kids ages 10 to 16, who can earn bikes after attending a series of instructional courses, passing mechanical tests and logging volunteer hours in the FWCB bike shop. It’s eight weeks of commitment with a big pay off at the other end: a set of wheels, and the knowledge and confidence that comes from knowing how to repair a bicycle.

The instructors start with the basics—such as how to change a flat tire, grease a chain and adjust brakes—and move to tougher skills as the weeks progress. However, mechanical skills are not the only lessons being taught in the shop; for many of the participants, the program is also a crash course in confidence and responsibility.

Leadership skills and critical thinking are components of the curriculum—although somewhat hidden behind the hands-on lessons of bicycle repair. Students learn respect and relationship building with their fellow students and the organization’s devoted adult volunteers.

And the end result? In many cases, it is a transformation from interested-but-distracted kids to devoted, hard-working individuals with a mission. Roger Hasper, retail shop manager and lead teaching mechanic for FWCB, points out that students even come into the open shop to catch up on missed lessons or put in a little extra study time before a big quiz. These students are motivated, and the Earn-a-Bike program encourages and feeds off their enthusiasm.

Photo courtesy Freewheelin' Community Bikes (FWCB)

“They see their friends knowing how to do something that was covered the week they missed. The positive peer pressure to learn those skills is incredibly powerful,” affirms Hasper.

Gabriel Ford was one of those students that graduated from the program with initiative and drive, despite knowing “nearly nothing” about bike maintenance before teaming up with FWCB. After he completed his eight weeks, Ford says he was hooked and wanted to stay engaged. “I love the environment at the shop,” he states. “I got so much out of the program, and I wanted to bring that same excitement to other kids.”

That opportunity presented itself this June when Ford was asked back to be an educator for the growing Earn-a-Bike program. With a grant from RTC, the organization was able to expand the program and bring Ford and other past students on board as instructors for the summer.

Being an instructor further fed his Ford’s passion for bikes and the community. “I would look forward to every day…” Ford explains. “Not many people get excited about going to work, but I loved teaching and being at the shop.”

It was a huge success to reengage past students, says Hasper, and he is optimistic that the program can be further engrained within the community.

If Gabriel Ford’s experience is any indication, it won’t take long for more kids to catch the Earn-a-Bike bug. And with a little positive peer pressure and a newfound love for bicycles, you can rest assured that they’ll show up to the shop on time—and walk away with a whole lot more than just a bike.

“If you stick with it, eventually good things will happen. It’s something to be proud of.”

Like everything else in the idyllic countryside of northern Indiana, the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail has a homespun, easy charm. While it doesn’t offer dramatic mountain ranges or crystalline waterfalls, what it does promise is a smooth, paved trail with vistas of vibrant green cornstalks and golden-hued wheat fields under a wide blue sky; dense tree canopies lush and cool in the summer and brilliant yellow in the fall; and thickets of wildflowers like clouds of color drifting along the trail in the spring. If you want to experience genuine Midwestern Americana, this is it.

The Pumpkinvine Nature Trail is an ideal location for families to enjoy a peaceful ride in nature. | Photo by John D. Yoder, courtesy Friends of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail

“I can’t help but feel good when I see families on the trail,” says Larry Neff, former director of the Elkhart County Parks Department, who recently retired after 39 years of service. “Everyone loves the trail. It’s wooded, it has streams running under it, and you see pastoral scenes of Amish life. The public just loves the thing.”

It’s hard to reconcile such a place with the relentless and cruel tactics once used to prevent the trail from ever happening. Opponents of the trail strung barbed wire across it, blocked it with their cars and dug holes in the pathway. But they met their match in a tightly knit group of friends that had banded together to make the trail a reality. Leading the charge for the trail was John Yoder, a perhaps unexpected fighter with his quiet and soft-spoken demeanor.

“John had an idea and was convinced it could work,” says Mike Landis, who co-owns a Dairy Queen adjacent to the trail with his wife Jan. “Everything that comes to pass needs somebody like that. He was the driving force behind the trail, and he didn’t give up.”

The trail’s story of resilience and tenacity began in 1988, fittingly with a bike ride. Yoder, an administrator at Goshen College at the time, was on sabbatical, enjoying the Illinois Prairie Path, one of the country’s first rail-trails, with his wife and young daughter. He was so inspired by the trail that, when he got back from the trip, he brought together a few friends to look at the opportunity of creating a rail-trail in their own community.

More than 100 walkers take part in the annual Maple City half marathon and marathon. | Photo by John D. Yoder, courtesy Friends of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail

An old Penn Central line connecting Goshen, Middlebury and Shipshewana, dubbed the Pumpkin Vine Railroad for its twisty path, had been out of use since the early 1980s. Yoder’s group, which officially became the Friends of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail in 1992, made an offer to the railroad to purchase the right-of-way for $100,000. They raised the money by offering $500 donors a plaque with their name on it that would be placed along the future trail; $60,000 was raised that way, and the remainder of the needed capital was secured with a bank loan.

In the beginning, news of the trail spread largely by word of mouth. Yoder, who has served as president of the Friends of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail since its inception, started a newsletter and would attend events like the county fair where he would hand out index cards about the project.

“Then the local paper got wind of what was going on—because we were working with the parks department—and the opposition started coming out of the woodwork,” remembers Yoder. “They said the trail would be a magnet for crime, trespassing and littering.”

Many adjacent landowners also claimed that the land belonged to them and not the railroad. Over the next several years, several lawsuits were won by the friends group or mediated to prove ownership of the property and settle land disputes. Neff, whose own house was on the outskirts of Goshen next to the trail corridor, was supportive of the idea even as the controversy heated up in the early 1990s.

The Pumpkinvine Nature Trail alternates between wooded and open sections that go around the edge of farm fields. | Photo by Danny Graber, courtesy Friends of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail

“When my neighbors started coming around asking us to sign a petition to be opposed to the trail, I told them that I was not opposed to it, and they stopped talking to me,” remembers Neff, who liked to go on bike rides with his four children; to him, the trail “seemed like the right thing to do for the community.”

In 2000, the pendulum swung with the opening of the trail’s first phase. “There was a lot less opposition once we got the first 1.7-mile section done,” says Yoder. “It was the most important thing we did. They could really see the benefits of it and that the trail was really happening.”

More sections followed with federal funding available through the Indiana Department of Transportation and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. In the beginning, it was one new section every few years and, later, several sections per year. While individually not very long (usually only a mile or two), what these completed segments demonstrated was progress and, strung together, they now form a continuous trail covering more than 17 miles with only one short on-road connection in between.

Because the rail-trail connects three townsand two counties (Elkhart and LaGrange), its management is a hodgepodge of government entities. However, through the Pumpkinvine Advisory Committee, they all have a voice at the table and oversee the trail successfully.

The tunnel under U.S. 20 was built with federal stimulus money in 2010. | Photo by John D. Yoder, courtesy Friends of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail

“Although a lot of different groups manage the trail, they work well together,” says Eric Oberg, manager of trail development for the Midwest Regional Office of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC). “From a user perspective, it’s a seamless experience.”

Currently, the trail ends about a half-mile from downtown Shipshewana, the center point for one of the largest concentrations of Amish in the country. Although the town is small—less than 700 people—it’s bursting with culture, history and attractions. Big draws here are the artisan and specialty shops and homestyle restaurants that the Amish are known for. Come here on a Tuesday or Wednesday from May to October and this usually quiet town is humming with activity at the region’s largest outdoor flea market, where hundreds of vendors display everything from handmade furniture and jewelry, to locally grown produce and baked goods, to antiques and collectibles.

“We want a trailhead here in Shipshewana very badly, but it’s a matter of resources,” says Mike Sutter, Shipshewana’s town manager, who says the community is actively pursuing funding for the trail connection.

“One of the great things about the Pumpkinvine trail is that it doesn’t skirt around the towns,” says Oberg. “In Goshen and Middlebury, it goes right through the center of town. With the trail so well-integrated, visitors can take advantage of all the amenities in town. It’s not a situation where you have to drive to the trail and then drive away to eat or drive to a place to stay. Visitors stay there and spend their money, so the benefits of the trail are apparent to the community.”

The 15th Annual Pumpkinvine Bike Ride attracted more than 1,000 riders from all over the Midwest. | Photo by John D. Yoder, courtesy Friends of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail

It’s a benefit that Landis knows firsthand. His Dairy Queen in Middlebury is right on the trail, providing one of life’s best combinations: ice cream and trail. He first noticed a difference about two years ago when a section of the trail finished within 100 yards of his property. “We anticipated that the trail would have an impact, so we put in a bike parking area that would fit 10 bikes comfortably, but it’s been totally inadequate, so now we have to figure out what to do next….When I see 40 or 50 bikes in the parking lot, that’s new business.”

While the bump in business is seasonal for the ice cream shop, Landis notes that other local businesses are appreciative of the trail, too. More than a dozen of them support the trail through corporate sponsorship of the Friends group. “If anyone has anything negative to say, you could push me over with a feather,” he says.

In addition to drawing tourists and recreational users, the trail serves a practical purpose, too. With an aversion to technology such as cars, the rail-trail is a heavily used commuter route for the Amish.

“Between Middlebury and Shipshewana, there’s one road, and it’s dangerous to ride a bike on,” says Landis. “Once the trail was finished, the Amish could get on the trail, and it became their interstate highway into town.”

The local Amish community is a major user of the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail. | Photo by Kathy Nobles

In 2013, RTC conducted trail counts and user surveys on several multi-use trails in Elkhart County, including the Pumpkinvine. While hanging a counter box, Oberg recalls an older gentleman who was out riding and stopped to chat with him. “He’d been riding the trail since day one and said it was huge for him and his family. He said it was the greatest thing that’d been done for the community. To hear something like that firsthand, it hits you upside the head with how it’s impacted the area.”

For Yoder, whose ambitions for the trail have been a lifelong effort, the results of the trail survey were very encouraging. “Middlebury’s number is more than 80,000 [estimated annual trail users]—that’s amazing!” Of his experience on the project, he says, “If you stick with it, eventually good things will happen. It’s something to be proud of.”

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/18/indiana-s-pumpkinvine-nature-trail/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/18/indiana-s-pumpkinvine-nature-trail/Tue, 18 November 2014 02:30:00 California Trail Projects Just Got a $54 Million BoostLaura Cohenhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/17/california-trail-projects-just-got-a-54-million-boost/Back in September, RTC was pleased to share some good news for the Golden State, announcing that $43 million in funds had been approved for 20 trail projects through the state’s new Active Transportation Program (ATP). This first round of programming for statewide and rural projects was a big step forward for creating more bikeable and walkable communities.

On Wednesday, Nov. 12, California took yet another substantial step forward by approving $133 million worth of regional ATP projects—including more than $54 million for 24 trail projects across the state. Many of these trail projects benefit disadvantaged communities, and some also provide safe routes to school and key connections to transit.

In southern California, where a large number of projects were approved, ATP funding will help close several critical gaps in the Orange County Loop, a 66-mile regional trail system that makes it possible for residents to walk and bike to some of California’s most scenic beaches and inland destinations.

The Los Angeles River Bike Path is also moving forward with new construction, having secured funds for the Owensmouth-Mason segment near the headwaters of the Los Angeles River.

It’s important to note that the ATP funds active-transportation plans, as well, such as the San Gabriel Valley Active Transportation Planning Initiative, which landed in the winners circle in this round. The San Gabriel Valley Greenway Network will eventually connect 150 miles of bikeways and trails along rivers, creeks and washes to create a world-class greenway system!

Other notable trail projects that received funding include:

Mather Rails-to-Trails Project in the City of Rancho Cordova: This project constructs a Class I multi-use trail alongside a Union Pacific spur between the Sacramento Regional Transit Mather/Mills Light Rail Station and the Mather Field Airport. The project will enhance mobility in this high-transit area for people traveling to the rail station, the Sacramento Veteran’s Administration Hospital, nearby business parks and residential areas. The project will also eliminate a barrier to walking and biking by providing a dedicated bicycle and pedestrian facility across busy U.S. Route 50.

City of Modesto Class 1 Bicycle Path: This soon-to-be 2.2-mile trail will provide a much-needed link for walkers and bicyclists between the east and west campuses of Modesto Junior College (MJC). There is currently no reasonably safe route for walkers and bicyclists to commute between the two primary MJC facilities; currently, those wishing to go between campuses must cross over State Route 99 and some active railroad tracks.

San Francisco Bay Trail, Pinole Shores to Bay Front Park: This project involves constructing a half-mile section of the San Francisco Bay Trail by extending an existing paved trail east from Pinole Shores and over some railroad tracks via a new bridge—to connect to an existing path in Bay Front Park. The project will shorten the trip to the park from four miles on streets to one mile via the trail.

The funds approved for trails in the regional half of ATP comprise 41 percent of the total funding awarded last week—a testament to California’s acknowledgement of the importance of trails in creating better transportation options for people of all ages.

We at RTC are pleased to see these steps toward better walkability and bikeability statewide. We will continue to monitor the progress of these great projects and how they impact the lives of residents and visitors by creating healthier, safer ways to get around!

]]>

http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/17/california-trail-projects-just-got-a-54-million-boost/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/17/california-trail-projects-just-got-a-54-million-boost/Mon, 17 November 2014 15:09:50 Innovative Indy: Cultural Trail Is the Way ForwardAlyssa Brunshttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/13/innovative-indy-cultural-trail-is-the-way-forward/In Indianapolis, a city best known for car racing—biking and walking have long taken a backseat. However, the Indianapolis Cultural Trail is breathing new life into the downtown area by putting walkers and bicyclists at the center of its transportation equation. After more than a decade of planning and construction, the eight-mile trail, opened in 2013, is an innovative and unifying force between neighborhoods and is changing the way people look at Indy.

Anticipation and community support for this project grew over the years, and the final product integrates these things in many different ways. The City of Indianapolis, an early champion of the project, donated all the rights-of-way for the construction of the trail. Federal funding as well as significant private contributions also helped the trail go from vision to reality.

Photo by Sarah Snyder

The trail is undeniably a vital transportation corridor, but its value goes far beyond just a way to get around. In fact, the Indy Cultural Trail is putting Indianapolis on the map for being one of the most environmentally innovative cities in the world; the trail features 25,400 feet of stormwater planters designed to be a sustainable way for the city to handle runoff. This green infrastructure reduces the burden on the city’s combined sewer systems, diverting 58,000 gallons of water per rain event. That comes out to 2.6 million gallons of water per year!

And true to its name, culture abounds on the pathway; in fact, seven original pieces of art, as well as the Glick Peace Walk—a showcase of 12 luminary individuals—line the corridor and bring the city’s local art scene trailside.

People outside of Indiana are taking note of the success of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, and folks want to know the secret. What makes this trail so special? And how can other communities replicate the success of the Cultural Trail? Planners from neighboring cities such as Cleveland and others from around the country (and world!) are visiting Indianapolis to answer those questions, and bring home both inspiration and solutions for their own trail networks.

The awards and accolades for the trail keep on rolling in: Indianapolis won the International Downtown Association’s 2013 Downtown Pinnacle Award for Public Space and the 2014 Interbike award for the Best Place for Bikes, and in 2013, the Project for Public Spaces ranked the trail as one of the top five boldest projects happening around the world.

With all this excitement in just the first couple years of its opening, it’s no wonder why people can’t stop talking about the Indianapolis Cultural Trail!

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/13/innovative-indy-cultural-trail-is-the-way-forward/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/13/innovative-indy-cultural-trail-is-the-way-forward/Thu, 13 November 2014 15:00:00 How to Get Your Bike in Tip-Top Shape in Under 10 MinutesKatie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/10/how-to-get-your-bike-in-tip-top-shape-in-under-10-minutes/Let’s face it, we don’t all have time to give our bikes a full tune-up every time we want to take it out for a spin. But, whether you’re an avid bike commuter or a weekend trail warrior, your bike still deserves some love.

For the time-crunched, the following steps can help you get your bike shined up and riding smoothly in less time than it takes the pizza delivery dude to get to your house.

The Once Over

Take a peek at your bike. Does anything stand out? Is a cable sticking out somewhere it shouldn’t? Are your tires a bit flat? Is your frame covered in mud? Deal with the most visible issues first, especially if they’re related to safety.

The Wipe Down

Grab a clean shop towel or an old t-shirt. Starting from the front of the bike and working to the back, wipe down your frame, keeping an eye out for major dents or the chipping of paint.

The Pump Up

You’ll find the appropriate tire pressure written on the sidewall of your tires. For mountain bike tires, the typical range is 30 to 50 per square inch (psi). For road bike tires, the typical range is 80 to 120 psi. Hybrid tires fall in between. Read the sidewall, grab the pump and bring your tire pressure up to the proper inflation. It will lessen your resistance on the road and make riding much easier!

While you’re focused on your tires, scan them for major wear or, worse yet, something embedded in the tire.

The “Brake Up”

Look at your brakes. Are the brake calipers centered? Are your brake pads worn down? Most brake pads have wear indicator lines, but if the brake pad looks dangerously close to its metal housing, then it’s time for a replacement. It’s a relatively easy fix; but remember, your brakes are paramount to your safety on your bike. If you don’t feel comfortable doing these repairs yourself, take your bike to a shop, and they’ll be happy to take care of it for you. Functioning brakes are an absolute necessity!

The Spin Cycle

Spin your wheels. Literally. Do they stay within one plane, or do they wobble as you spin them? If they wobble, you’re tires are “out of true.” It’s time for a more in-depth tune up. Take them to the shop before they get worse.

The Lube

Photo by AJ Brustein

After you’ve wiped your whole frame down, shift your attention to your chain. Flip your bike over (being cautious of your saddle, of course!), and with the rag, grasp the chain behind the chain ring. Turn the pedal backwards, allowing the rag to gather the built-up gunk from the chain. Apply lube to the chain while you continue to turn the crank. Do this for one full rotation of the chain. Note: you don’t have to pour on the lube; one drop per gap is fine.

Continue to spin the pedal and allow the chain to loosen up. Next, bring your rag to the chain and wipe off the excess lube. Now that’s what we call a well-oiled machine!

The Phone Call

If you have found any major issues during your speedy fix-up, find the phone number of your local bike shop, and give them a call. Set up an appointment to have your bike checked out by a professional.

Invest 10 minutes into your bike, and you’re ride will feel like new! And for the things you aren’t comfortable doing on your own, there is no better excuse to establish a relationship with a local bike shop. Now, let’s ride!

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/10/how-to-get-your-bike-in-tip-top-shape-in-under-10-minutes/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/10/how-to-get-your-bike-in-tip-top-shape-in-under-10-minutes/Mon, 10 November 2014 09:56:41 How to Ride in the RainKatie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/10/how-to-ride-in-the-rain/Rain, whether a mist or a downpour, is a game changer. But, while it’s not top on the list for premiere riding conditions, with a few tricks up your sleeve, it’s easy to turn a ride in the rain from a soggy nightmare into a pleasure cruise.

1Time It Right

The first thing to remember when riding in the rain is to take your time. Leave your house a few minutes earlier than usual, slow down, and ride consistently.

2Use Your Brain

The road will be slick during those first 15 minutes of rain (remember those oils on the roadway that you learned about back in your high school driver’s ed class?), and your brakes will be less responsive. Watch out for surfaces that are usually fine in dry conditions. That includes metal plates, bridge decks, painted street surfaces and leaf piles.

3Mind the Corner

Slow down before making a turn, and minimize breaking while you round a corner.

4Be Seen

In order to stay safe in the rain, it’s imperative that you’re visible. Remember, the rain isn’t just reducing your visibility. It’s also reducing the visibility for drivers with whom you share the road. Make sure everyone can see you! Reflective clothing is a great idea. Also, make sure to have a bright white light on the front of your bike and a red light on the back.

5Be Cool

I don’t care what anyone else tells you; fenders are cool. They keep that awful “skunk tail” of a mud streak off of your back and save your face and eyes from grit and water. Fenders are a relatively low cost investment with a huge payoff: your comfort!

6Waterproof Yourself

A rain jacket and rain pants will make your life much easier when you’re riding in the rain. Be sure to buy gear with taped seams, and cuff your pant leg to keep it from getting caught in the chain. Are you concerned about your fashionista reputation being ruined by your biking gear? Don’t worry. The bicycle rain cape is a budding new fashion trend and keeps you dry without getting you sweaty.

7Wanna Get Techie?

On the flipside, gear heads can have a heyday with equipment for the rain, including clear lenses, special gloves and overshoes to keep your toes dry. It’s great if you want to go all out with gear, but remember, a sturdy but breathable rain jacket and rain pants are the main items to invest in when it comes to riding in the rain.

8Save Your Stuff

There are tons of great waterproof bags and panniers on the market. But if purchasing a new bag isn’t an option, don’t underestimate the power of a good old trash bag. Line your backpack with a trash bag, load your things, and seal it tight. Your bag might get wet, but the contents will stay dry—all for less than a quarter.

9Adjust your ‘Tude

There is an adage that my parents used to repeat to me when the storm clouds started to brew. “There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.” After years of rolling my eyes every time I heard them say it, I now embrace the saying, but I’d like to offer an amendment. My version? “There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing and a bad attitude.”

Remember- riding your bike is FUN! You don’t have to be a hero; it’s okay to take a day off from your bike if it’s raining. But if you’re out there in the rain, try to embrace it. Sticking a smile on your face will do great things for your experience. Even if you have to “fake it ‘til you make it,” smiling through a soggy ride will help you enjoy it!

Rain certainly changes the situation when you’re riding your bike, but it’s no reason to throw in the towel. So the next time that the weather report looks ominous, know that you’re ready for the challenge, and enjoy your ride!

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/10/how-to-ride-in-the-rain/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/10/how-to-ride-in-the-rain/Mon, 10 November 2014 09:50:04 How to Pull Off the Ultimate Trail PicnicKatie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/09/how-to-pull-off-the-ultimate-trail-picnic/Whether you’re planning a fun-filled summer afternoon with your kids or trying to impress your new love interest, a trailside picnic (if done right!) could be just the ticket. Follow our quick tips, and transform your next trail outing into a proper picnic experience.

Pick the Place

Route planning for your perfect picnic doesn’t have to be a daunting task. A quick visit to TrailLink will help you pick the ideal trail for your outing. Search for trails nearby, look at photos of the area, and decide how many miles you’ll pedal before your hunger takes over!

Pack Up

However you choose to get your gear to your picnic, be sure to remember your knife and utensils; pack them first to avoid any last-minute forgetfulness. Oh yeah, plates are also a good idea.

BYOB

Depending on the mood of your picnic, choose the appropriate beverage. Of course, pack plenty of water, but surprise your fellow picnickers with a little something extra. Chocolate milk and juice boxes will get you a gold star from the young ones.

For more mature tastes, consider bringing your favorite wine. Our resident trailside sommelier recommends ditching the glass bottle and opting for a portable wine bag or sack, which will keep the wine fresh and be easier to transport.

Get Comfy

Photo by Victor Shey

It’s not a picnic without a “blanket”—whether it’s a sheet from the closet or an old-fashioned gingham number. For a true bike-picnic experience, consider one that attaches to your bike. A reasonable alternative to a blanket are camp chairs, but be sure to go with something that is light and packable.

Accessorize

Of course, the food and drink are the centerpieces of your trailside picnic, but for a memorable event, the little extras will be the ticket. Flying disks and kites are musts if your trip involves kids, and everyone will love having music to accompany their meal. Throw in a few tea candles and a lighter if you’re going for a romantic mood.

Chow Down

Let’s get to the main event: the food! A cheese plate with apples is the perfect picnic appetizer. Choose your cheese depending on your taste and the flexibility of your pocketbook. For the main course, consider a baguette, pesto, cream cheese and salami. These foods travel well and are delicious and classy. Fruit and vegetables, and crackers and hummus are also good options.

Late July? Throw together some cucumber and cream-cheese sandwiches, and plenty of watermelon. Early autumn? Opt for soup made at home; transport it to your picnic destination in an insulated container or thermos.

Take note: You’ll look like a picnic amateur if you forget dessert. Throw in a chocolate bar or cookies for the final course.

Keep It Clean

Offering your picnic guests a cloth napkin at the beginning of the meal will win you some brownie points. Or,consider throwing in a pack of baby wipes to keep your fingers clean. When it’s time to head home, a spare trash bag will save the day.

With just a bit of preparation, you can turn what might have otherwise been a drab mid-ride meal into a trailside picnic for the record books. With good company, tasty food and a trip along your favorite trail, the deck is stacked in your favor. Bon appétit!

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/09/how-to-pull-off-the-ultimate-trail-picnic/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/09/how-to-pull-off-the-ultimate-trail-picnic/Sun, 09 November 2014 18:54:40 There's a New Brand of Biker Gang in IndianaKatie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/07/theres-a-new-brand-of-biker-gang-in-indiana/Two kids—age three and six. Sixty pounds of camping gear. Food, toys and equipment for an overnight in the woods. Pack up the…bikes?

In Bloomington, Ind., Mark Stosberg and his family are doing just that through overnight camping trips done on cargo bikes. With kids in tow, he and his wife hit the road or trail—and off they go to explore the world around them.

According to Stosberg, the inspiration for the camping trips came from how the family usually got around, with grocery shopping, errands and the youngest kid’s daily drop-off at nursery school all being done on two wheels.

Photo courtesy Mark Stosberg

“Cargo bike camping was a natural extension of our everyday bike travels,” Stosberg says. “I thought about bike camping with the whole family…and said [to myself], ‘Why not? We can do this!’”

His enthusiasm for the camping trips is mirrored by his children. Stosberg affirms that his kids don’t care how far out of town they go; what matters is the time away and having a different experience than their day-to-day routine. “It is a discovery that there are beautiful spots close to home,” he explains, “and getting there by bike makes the experience that much better.”

Earlier this summer, Stosberg read a book about a family who traveled by bike around the world and told his kids about their grand adventures. And so, on one of their first family camping trips, they peppered their father with questions: Are we in another country? Another state, at least?

His response? “Nope, we’re barely out of town, but it feels like a grand adventure, doesn’t it?!”

Stosberg says his family isn’t trying to break any records or be extreme in any sense. It’s about fitting the excursions into what’s happening day-to-day. And that integration of bikes and adventure into everyday life is a great example of normalizing the bike culture.

Stosberg moved his family from Richmond, Ind., to Bloomington a few years ago because he wanted to raise his kids in a place where biking was “normal culture,” and of course, trails have been an integral part of the process. Stosberg says he appreciates trails in Indiana, especially now that he is a father.

“Trails have been a great place for my kids to learn how to ride, learn skills [and] learn how to ride with others, where the stakes are much lower,” he says. “It was the first place that we went to practice…[trails] provided a safe environment for them, where they could be comfortable, and where I knew they were safe.”

Sometimes, they’re joined by other bike-centric families, and the crew cruises out to the campsite. The Stosberg family redefines the phrase “biker gang”—a definition that we can definitely get behind!

Want to hear more about cargo bike adventures and how the Stosberg family uses bikes as transportation everyday? Follow Mark on Twitter: @bikesastrans.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/07/theres-a-new-brand-of-biker-gang-in-indiana/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/07/theres-a-new-brand-of-biker-gang-in-indiana/Fri, 07 November 2014 09:00:00 Good Things Happening in the Hoosier State!Rhonda Romanohttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/03/good-things-happening-in-the-hoosier-state/During the month of November, RTC will be highlighting all things Indiana.

With an eye on people, projects and policies, we are focusing on how the Hoosier State is moving toward a vision of a more walkable, bikeable and upwardly mobile state for its 6.6 million citizens and millions of visitors each year.

Indiana is a dynamic state, home to the metropolitan hubs of Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, the college towns of Bloomington and South Bend, and countless townships that dot the farmland and animate the rural landscape. This diversity is important to the state and is reflected in how people get around.

Here is a little taste of what's to come as we shine the spotlight on the Hoosier State:

By the Numbers: Indiana is home to 57 trails that traverse nearly 400 miles around the state. The longest trail in Indiana is the Cardinal Greenway, and it stretches 62 miles through the eastern part of the state.

The Indianapolis Cultural Trailthat runs through the state capital was long awaited, and is now widely celebrated. We'll tell you more about this corridor, what it took to bring the trail to Indy, the environmental elements included in the project design, and the economic impact of the trail.

Visionary organizations and foundations are leading the charge to build and maintain Indiana's trails and greenways. We'll be telling you all about how these groups are finding innovative solutions to preserve the natural spaces that Hoosier State residents know and love.

We look forward to sharing with you the people and projects that make Indiana a notable state in the trails world. Stay tuned!

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/03/good-things-happening-in-the-hoosier-state/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/03/good-things-happening-in-the-hoosier-state/Mon, 03 November 2014 12:50:19 RTC Responds to Misleading Report on Bicycle FatalitiesKevin Millshttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/03/rtc-responds-to-misleading-report-on-bicycle-fatalities/Over the past few days Rails-to-Trails Conservancy has been working with the League of American Bicyclists and the Alliance for Biking and Walking to respond to a number of troubling media reports about bicycling fatalities.

The Governors' Highway Safety Association report examining bicycle fatalities in the United States, while, appreciated for its focus on such important topic, unfortunately contained data analysis and rhetoric that were inaccurate and misleading. We hope for better from our state highway safety offices.

Unfortunately, a number of high profile media outlets ran stories on the report that failed to examine the accuracy of its key findings and narrative focus.

Luckily, there were a number of media outlets and experts willing and able to give the report more thorough analysis.

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's research and policy staff helped spearhead an effort to educate our partners in the media as to the reality of biking in the U.S., its popularity, and its importance to the future of our transportation system.

The Los Angeles Times ran a letter co-authored by our president, Keith Laughlin, calling attention to the important fact that, accounting for the increased level of cycling in the United States, the cyclist fatality rate fell by a dramatic 79 percent.

Countering the report's key assertion that bicycling was becoming more dangerous, Drs. John Pucher and Ralph Buehler, authors of City Cycling, wrote that:

"Using official data from the US Department of Transportation, the total number of bike trips more than tripled from 1,272 million in 1977 to 4,081 million in 2009. During the same period, the number of cyclist fatalities fell from 922 in 1977 to 628 in 2009, a decrease of 32 percent. Taking into account the increased level of cycling, the cyclist fatality rate fell by a dramatic 79 percent. In short, cycling has become roughly four times safer per bike trip over the past three decades."

We know that bicycle safety is improving as we build more safe places to ride, and as the number of people riding regularly continues to grow.

We still have much to do to ensure everyone feels safe and has a safe ride, but with your continued help we'll build the trail and active transportation networks that will provide safe routes for all.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/03/rtc-responds-to-misleading-report-on-bicycle-fatalities/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/03/rtc-responds-to-misleading-report-on-bicycle-fatalities/Mon, 03 November 2014 12:44:54 Top 10 Trails in New JerseyRails-to-Trails Conservancyhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/02/top-10-trails-in-new-jersey/This October, we featured a number of the great trails, projects and organizations in the state of New Jersey. We also asked the locals to tell us which were their favorite New Jersey trails. From the northern boundary to Cape May, and from the highlands to the shore, New Jersey has so many great trails. It wasn't easy to choose only 10!

Looking back on New Jersey month, RTC brings you the Top 10 Trails in the Garden State!

1. Barnegat Branch Trail

Ocean County

This gem along the Shore is not completely finished, but the segments that are open showcase the best of New Jersey. In the spring, fields of brightly colored wildflowers frame the trail. During the summer months, check out the wildlife refuge and the creatures who call it home.

2. Columbia Trail

Hunterdon and Morris counties

It's clear why the Columbia Trail was featured as October 2014's Trail of the Month! From forest to farmland, this trail is a magnificent natural history lesson. One notable highlight is the magnificent Ken Lockwood Gorge, where steep slopes and rapid water reveal dramatic rock formations.

3. Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park Trail

Hunterdon, Mercer and Somerset counties

Often referred to as the D&R Canal, this trail follows the towpath of the canal, which was built in the early 1830s as a transportation corridor between Philadelphia and New York. Along the 68-mile long route you'll find 19th-century bridges, remnants of locks, and cobblestone spillways.

4. Edgar Felix Memorial Bikeway

Monmouth County

The Edgar Felix Memorial Bikeway packs enough history, scenery and activity in its 5.2 miles for an all-day adventure. In 2006, the trail became the first dedicated segment of the 55-mile Capital to Coast multi-use trail that will span New Jersey!

5. Henry Hudson Trail

Monmouth County

Trail enthusiasts in New Jersey adore the Henry Hudson Trail. Some sections are wooded and shady; other sections pass through open fields and across brooks and streams. Bring binoculars and keep a lookout for wildlife, including the many species of birds that live along the corridor.

6. Middle Township Bike Path

Cape May County

The Middle Township Bike Path runs for four miles, following an abandoned railroad bed, between Cape May County Park and the community of Whitesboro. Along the way, trail-goers can access the park zoo, Atlantic Cape Community College, Davies Sports Complex, and the 4-H Fairgrounds.

7. Paulinskill Valley Trail

Sussex and Warren counties

For a dose of rural scenery, head to the northwest corner of New Jersey to the Paulinskill Valley Trail. Farms line the 27-mile corridor, and depending on the season, you are likely to be in the company of equestrians and bicyclists, or snowshoers and dog sled teams!

8. Pleasantville to Somers Point Bike Path

Atlantic County

This is a true community trail: four small cities are tied together by this 6.5-mile corridor that travels through residential neighborhoods and connects the schools, parks and playing fields in between. A few short wooded sections provide a change of pace.

9. Sandy Hook Multi-Use Pathway

Monmouth County

The multi-use pathway spanning the length of New Jersey's Sandy Hook peninsula offers beautiful views of the ocean, as well as shady sections through maritime forest. A bird observatory and wildlife observation decks along the way allow you to take in the natural surroundings.

10. Sussex Branch Trail

Sussex County

The 20-mile Sussex Branch Trail, which was RTC's Trail of the Month in January 2011, got its start in the late 1840s as the narrow-gauge, mule-drawn Sussex Mine Railroad, whose primary purpose was hauling iron ore from the mines to the Morris Canal.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/02/top-10-trails-in-new-jersey/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/november/02/top-10-trails-in-new-jersey/Sun, 02 November 2014 12:59:49 In New Jersey: a Future Trail, a Vital ConnectionTom Sextonhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/october/29/in-new-jersey-a-future-trail-a-vital-connection/If you are a resident of the New Jersey communities of Merchantville, Maple Shade or Moorestown, you are lucky to live so close to so many great regional attractions.

But it is not always so easy to be able to safely ride or walk to all the places you want to go.

Imagine hopping on your bike and riding on a trail down to Adventure Aquarium, the Battleship USS New Jersey, or the baseball stadium, Campbell's Field, down on the Delaware River.

Once the ramp leading up to the Ben Franklin Bridge is completed, you'll be able to access the Ben Franklin Bridge Walkway, a separated path that takes you up and over the Delaware River and into downtown Philly, where you could spend the afternoon exploring the city.

Or continue your ride on the newly-opened Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk, or the myriad of other trail connections throughout the region. This is not an impossible dream. In fact, it's a very realistic scenario!

For New Jersey residents, this proposed trail - from Moorestown, through Merchantville and the southern tip of Pennsauken Township and to the Ben Franklin Bridge - would mean being able to get to and from Philadelphia without relying on a car. But what does it mean for other residents of the Camden/Philadelphia metro area?

It would be a key component in the Circuit. What's the Circuit? The Circuit is a planned 750-mile network of bicycle and pedestrian trails in the Greater Philadelphia region, 300 miles of which already exist. As you read this, RTC and a coalition of local organizations are working to make it happen.

The Circuit is all about using biking and walking pathways to connect people to jobs, communities, and parks in the region. A trail from Burlington and Camden counties to the Ben Franklin Bridge would instantly make walking and biking an easier option for getting around your community.

A few short sections of this link to the Ben Franklin Bridge are already in place, and the other segments are available and in development. Stay tuned for what you can do to help us build this vital trail corridor. We want you to get excited!

At Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, we think big. We invite you to join us in our big thinking - envision what this proposed trail connection could mean for you and communities in southern New Jersey. We want you on board!

Share this blog post with your friends and neighbors, by email or through facebook. And if you are interested in helping RTC continue to promote this great trail connection, I'd love to hear from you - email me at tom@railstotrails.org.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/october/29/in-new-jersey-a-future-trail-a-vital-connection/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/october/29/in-new-jersey-a-future-trail-a-vital-connection/Wed, 29 October 2014 13:19:50 Bikeway Brings Global Attention to BostonOrhan Beldinghttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/october/28/bikeway-brings-global-attention-to-boston/The impact of tourism dollars on "trail-towns" in rural America has long been a point of pride for the trail movement. These days, we're excited to see more major cities catching on to the tourism value that trails and greenways generate as well.

In September, RTC heard from one of our friends at the Greater Merrimack Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau in Massachusetts. They were seeking to roll out the red carpet for a travel writer from the U.K. on a mission to experience Boston by bicycle. It was a unique chance to promote The Hub's world-class trail network, and recognition that local officials taking cycle-tourism seriously.

Seeking an ambassador, we were glad to make contact with Jeff Roth of Belmont, Mass. Over the years, Jeff, an experienced cyclist, has been an increasingly active trails advocate. When we reached out to him about being a guide for the visiting writer, and an ambassador for the region's trails, Jeff jumped at the chance.

"It was fun to share historical landmarks that one can see along the rail-trails," Jeff says. "For example, on theMinuteman Bikeway in Arlington, there is a hidden granite archway bridge dating from the 1840s that a brook passes through to go underneath the railroad embankment. I biked over this bridge several hundred times before discovering it myself."

On a tour that led from the door of a downtown Boston hotel to the Charles River Esplanade, Jeff and the writer rode through historic Harvard Square and on to the town of Belmont. There, a new rail-with-trail connection took them to the metro-transit and trail hub at Alewife Station, where they picked up the Minuteman Bikeway. Eleven miles later, in Bedford, they viewed a restored "Buddliner" railcar at the Bedford Depot, which marks the current endpoint for the trail.

"We got to experience the whole variety of bicycle accommodations, from bicycle lanes in dense downtown Boston, to kid- and family-friendly off-road rail-trails," Jeff says. "The variety helped contrast the different experiences of being on a busy roadway path, versus the rail-trails we went on, which were much more peaceful and quiet."

With rail-trails, greenways and bike lanes all coming in to the mix, it's impossible to overstate the dedication and thoughtfulness of local activists and planners like Jeff whose work over decades now helps keep locals healthier, safer, better connected and a bit greener.

Now, the rising acclaim of Boston in the global cycling community is bringing focus to the economic impact tourism dollars can bring.

"Cycle tourism means the opportunity for visitors to patronize local businesses," Jeff says. "The travel writer was excited about the Old Schwamb Mill, where we stopped, and which has a museum and a store selling Shaker products. Steps from the bikeway, it's an ideal spot for visitors to see a historical landmark and find a souvenir, but you'd easily miss it if you are driving a car."

Cycle tourism, and the promise of its economic stimulus, also helps spur the construction of future trails.

"Our route from Belmont to Alewife was on a new trail, which we have not yet been able to bring to Belmont Center, which is a destination for many people," Jeff says. "Completion of the trail to Belmont Center would allow visitors to easily get to the local restaurants and businesses there."

"I hope the travel writer's story helps others discover that exploring by bicycle is really unique and fun," Jeff says. "There are things, like the sounds of birds and the scent of wild grapes growing along the trail, that are best experienced by bike."

Along with Jeff, we at RTC are thrilled about more positive exposure for trails, and we extend our thanks to him for stepping in as a "rail-trail ambassador."

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/october/28/bikeway-brings-global-attention-to-boston/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/october/28/bikeway-brings-global-attention-to-boston/Tue, 28 October 2014 13:28:43 So Simple, So Good: New Jersey Community Puts Play at the Heart of Local Health InitiativeElissa Southwardhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/october/27/so-simple-so-good-new-jersey-community-puts-play-at-the-heart-of-local-health-initiative/We all know that getting outside and moving your body is important for your health. But, living an active life requires safe places to bike, walk, run, skate and play.

In Montclair, N.J., an initiative called Eat. Play. Live...Better is having an important impact in encouraging people to be more active in their daily lives, and to make healthy eating choices.

The initiative, funded by the Partners for Health Foundation, has brought together a wide range of partners from public agencies and municipalities, private businesses, nonprofits and individuals throughout northern New Jersey. Their common goal is to bring about policy, systems and environmental changes that make it possible to be more active and live healthier lives.

Too many pedestrians have been hit and killed by motor vehicles in Montclair in recent years, and so a strong emphasis is being put on bike and pedestrian safety. The Eat. Play. Live... Better initiative is leading the way for programs that address the safety concerns of people of all ages.

Drive with Care

The township-sanctioned Pedestrian Safety Committee launched the 'Drive with care in Montclair' campaign to encourage safe driving behavior. The committee is now working with Rutgers Voorhees Transportation Center to develop a pedestrian safety action plan that will include strategies to decrease the number of accidents involving cyclists and pedestrians.

Pop-Up Solutions

In May 2014, Montclair received a gold award for its Safe Routes to School Program.

But walking and biking to school in Montclair isn't all smooth sailing. One of the town's biggest challenges to date has been getting dedicated bike lanes. And so the Montclair Police Department Traffic Bureau and Bike&Walk Montclair recently worked together to include a pop up bike lane as part of this year's International Walk and Bike to School festivities.

Two blocks of roadway leading to Renaissance Middle School were used for a trial protected bike lane. It was the first collaboration of its kind, and it was a huge success. The impermanent lanepainted a clear picture of what safe routes for biking might feel like on Montclair streets, and set the stage for what is possible in the near future.

Safety for Seniors

Montclair's concern for safety isn't reserved for the younger generations. A handful of programs aimed at senior citizens are improving access to safe places to walk.

As part of the 'Lifelong Montclair - Aging in Place' initiative, the New Jersey Department of Transportation funded a walkability audit, and the Partnership for Health and Rutgers University developed a transit guide for seniors.

The township has also dedicated funds to replace its old, unreliable senior shuttle bus, and will receive routing and scheduling assistance from Montclair State University.

Things to Come

Everyone involved in Eat. Play. Live... Betterunderstands that access to healthy environments and healthy choices should be easy for everyone, regardless of income, education, race or background.

Due to the vision and support of Partners for Health Foundation and the partners actively engaged inEat. Play. Live... Better, the local community is becoming more walkable, bikeable, and transit-friendly. Laura Torchio, the program coordinator for the initiative and former president of Bike&Walk Montclair, sees future opportunities for rail-trails, and rail-with-trails, to be a part of that continued improvement.

RTC applauds the efforts of the Partners for Health Foundation, the Eat, Play, Live... Betterinitiative and the City of Montclair for the investment they have made in the health and vitality of Montclair's citizens. These organizations are actively working to ensure the members of their community have access to safe places to be active and live...better!

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/october/27/so-simple-so-good-new-jersey-community-puts-play-at-the-heart-of-local-health-initiative/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/october/27/so-simple-so-good-new-jersey-community-puts-play-at-the-heart-of-local-health-initiative/Mon, 27 October 2014 13:36:03 Hey Trail Lovers...Take a Trip off the Turnpike!Leeann Sinpatanasakulhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/october/21/hey-trail-loverstake-a-trip-off-the-turnpike/As a New Jersey native, born and raised, I am familiar with all the stereotypes about my home state: Reality television. Shopping malls. The Turnpike. “I’ve never explored New Jersey, but how great can it be?” people ask, speeding down the Turnpike on their way to Philadelphia or New York.

What these doubters don’t realize is that getting off the highway is the key to understanding how great the Garden State really is.

From tip to toe, New Jersey is filled with incredible recreational opportunities for walking or biking, either on rail-trails or in the forested parks and nature preserves that contain trails. Twenty minutes from the Turnpike, you can find yourself on the 68-mile Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park Trail that follows the historic towpath of the canal or on the Henry Hudson Trail that runs close to the famed Jersey shore. It is incredible how quickly the scenery can change, from a noisy, multi-lane highway with nothing but gray pavement for miles, to the lush green foliage of a state forest, carefully tucked away like a hidden gem, waiting for visitors to discover it.

I have had the great fortune of knowing where the hidden gems are—where the sights and sounds of the big city and the rush of cars fade away in favor of the babbling brook accompanied by the soprano notes of a songbird.

My favorite of these spots, located less than an hour’s drive from Manhattan, is the Ramapo Valley County Reservation, the local hiking spot I have been visiting since childhood. I have fond memories of taking walks with my family on the trail around Scarlett Oak Pond. I can remember my sister and I being excited by a frog hopping past or fascinated by the toadstools we found on the trail. Captivated by nature, it was perhaps the only time we weren’t pulling on each other’s hair.

Now that I’m older, it’s not always easy to find time to spend in nature, but when I do, I experience the same sense of joy and wonder I had when I was little. Whether it’s a leisurely stroll or a strenuous hike, I feel connected to the land where I live and to the natural world around me. My favorite hiking spot becomes a refuge from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, a place that feels like home where I can rest and recharge. No doubt, readers in New Jersey have their own special outdoor place in mind.

If the Ramapo Reserve’s 20 miles of hiking trails aren’t your cup of tea, there are plenty of other hidden gems throughout a small state that boasts more than 300 miles along 50 rail-trails. Whether you’re visiting the Columbia Trail in the northwest, the D & R Canal Trail in the central part of the state, the eight-mile bike path on Island State Park by the shore, or one of the many hiking trails running through the Pine Barrens in South Jersey, my home state has a trail for everyone.

Wherever you go in New Jersey, you’ll find another great spot for an outdoor adventure and another place to make memories like I have, the kind that last a lifetime—and only 20 minutes from the Turnpike!

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/october/21/hey-trail-loverstake-a-trip-off-the-turnpike/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/october/21/hey-trail-loverstake-a-trip-off-the-turnpike/Tue, 21 October 2014 13:43:24 New Jersey's Columbia TrailLaura Starkhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/october/16/new-jerseys-columbia-trail/Trail of the Month: October 2014

"The Columbia Trail is one of those really beloved trails . . . People love to go out there."

We were pleasantly perplexed and insatiably curious: On our TrailLink website, we discovered that the Columbia Trail in northern New Jersey had the highest user rating that a trail could have: five out of five stars, as well as 70 firsthand reviews when most trails on the site boast only a handful. It ranks number 21 on the list of TrailLink's most-viewed trails in the entire country. With just a 15-mile length, no pavement and a location outside a major city, what made it so popular?

"Year-round, it's our most well-used park," says Doug Kiovsky, who has been a park ranger for 25 years with the Hunterdon County Department of Parks and Recreation, which manages the southern half of the trail. "I'd estimate that an average of 150,000 people a year use the trail."

We soon found out why. Only about an hour from both Trenton and Newark, the Columbia Trail is the kind of place where the everyday world slowly loosens its grip, and you're overcome with a sense of peace and awe as you travel farther into the sanctity, solitude and sereneness of its surroundings. The sight and sounds of the woods, the river at your side and the trail winding ahead are vivid and all encompassing. Nature is present in a way that resists the incessant pull of mobile phones, social media and the Internet. Here, you're likely to catch the fleeting glimpse of a fox before it darts off into the underbrush or hear the timid footfalls of a deer among the trees.

"When people mention New Jersey, they think of the urban lifestyle, the turnpike, the gritty industry, but it's really a pretty state," says Gill Smith, council president for the Borough of Califon. "I've done a lot of traveling in New Jersey, and there are some hidden gems. I consider the Ken Lockwood Gorge one of the state's best-kept secrets."

Only a couple of miles from its starting point in High Bridge, the Columbia Trail delves into the steep-sided gorge, picturesque with moss and rhododendrons tumbling over the rocks. After a heavy rainfall, crystalline waterfalls cascade down its sides. The South Branch of the Raritan River is close at hand and well-stocked with trout; you're likely to see fly fisherman wading into its cool, clear waters, and the graceful arc of their fishing lines.

"The fall foliage is fantastic," says Kiovsky. "The area where the gorge is has a New England feel. The birch, aspen and maple trees provide a nice variety of colors."

Such a trail attracts the usual assortment of walkers, bicyclists and equestrians, but also…gnomes. Their whimsical little houses with rounded doors and pointed roofs have been anonymously sprinkled among the greenery lining the trail just outside the quaint town of Califon.

Califon is one of several charming, friendly communities along the route. "The town is one square mile with a population of just over a thousand," says Smith. "It's not a town that you'd expect to find in New Jersey. By eight or nine o'clock at night, it really quiets down."

The rail-trail crosses Main Street, and travelers can easily head into town to shore up at the general store or at one of the town's pizzerias or restaurants. Even if you're not hungry, Califon is well worth a side trip; the town's historic district—listed on the National Register of Historic Places—includes more than 100 historical buildings, most dating back to the mid-1800s and some even to the late 1700s.

One of these, a small stone building just off the trail, is the Califon Train Station (circa 1875), a remnant of the High Bridge Branch of the Central Railroad of New Jersey, on which the trail was built. The Califon Historical Society is housed inside and offers walking tours and a heritage museum that's open seasonally twice a month from May through October (and for special occasions, like Santa visits).

Legend has it that prominent businessman Jacob Neighbor pushed to name the town "California" during the Gold Rush, but the name wouldn't fit on the train station's sign, so they shortened it to Califon and the name stuck.

Although most rail-trails get their names from the railroads that preceded them, the Columbia Trail is named after a gas company. By the 1930s, passenger service had ended on the railroad; it struggled on with freight service until 1976 and was dismantled shortly thereafter. After languishing many years, a new opportunity arose for the disused and overgrown corridor.

"Back in 1998, the Morris County Park Commission was in negotiations with Columbia Gas," says Russ Nee, trails foreman for the commission, which manages the northern half of the trail. "They wanted to put a gas line through, so it worked out that Columbia Gas would get a gas transmission pipeline under the rail bed, and the county would get the top side for a trail."

Improvements were gradually made to the trail, but a major boost to the project came 10 years later. "We did a complete renovation to the Morris County section in 2008," says Nee. "It was a grass and mud single-track trail. We made it crushed stone and 10 feet wide. It changed the dynamic of the trail, and people fell in love with it."

With more trail visitors came more trail business. Along the northern stretch of the trail, Long Valley is a valued stop, with the winning combination of a bike shop in town and a brew pub in a beautifully restored, 200-year-old barn.

"They're trying to revitalize Long Valley as an eco-friendly and outdoor destination, and the trail is a major component of that," says Nee.

Near the center of Long Valley, the Columbia Trail also connects to two major networks for trail adventurers, the Patriots' Path and the Liberty Water Gap Trail, making it possible to travel from these rural parts of the state and all the way across New Jersey to Liberty State Park, which sits across from the Statue of Liberty.

"The Columbia Trail is one of those really beloved trails," says Carl Knoch, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's manager of trail development in the Northeast. "People love to go out there."

Smith, who uses the trail frequently, calls the experience relaxing and therapeutic. "I feel very fortunate to have it," he states.

Do you enjoy and want to support our Trail of the Month feature? Any extra contribution you're able to make helps us stay at the forefront of covering trails and trail projects around the country. Thank you for reading and supporting this feature!

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/october/16/new-jerseys-columbia-trail/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/october/16/new-jerseys-columbia-trail/Thu, 16 October 2014 14:09:39 Rising from Tragedy: Progress, Partnerships and Potential on the Whitehorse TrailLaura Cohenhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/october/15/rising-from-tragedy-progress-partnerships-and-potential-on-the-whitehorse-trail/Branching off from the ever-popular 30-mile Centennial Trail in Snohomish County, Wash., the largely undeveloped Whitehorse Trail runs through the heart of Washington State’s Stillaguamish Valley, from Arlington via Oso, ending at the foot of the Cascade Range in the small town of Darrington.

While the vision of converting this former rail line into a destination 27-mile rail-trail has existed for years, a March 2014 landslide ripped across the Stillaguamish Valley. The landslide’s devastation killed 43 people, buried more than one mile of the highway and adjacent rail bed and left the rail-trail vision in limbo.

But the local communities are rebuilding and recovering from this tragedy, and the Whitehorse Trail’s future grows brighter each day through a combination of partnerships and a realization of the outdoor recreation and economic development potential of the rail-trail. The ultimate vision is to connect the Whitehorse Trail to the existing Centennial Trail, linking a growing 120-mile regional trail network across Snohomish and King counties.

Photo courtesy Washington Bikes

Tourism represents the third-largest sector of the Snohomish County economy, and in the post-landslide recovery, area leaders have been eager to communicate that Snohomish County is open for business and welcoming visitors. This is something that Darrington Mayor Dan Rankin recognized early in the recovery efforts, stating, “I truly believe that biking in the Stilly Valley and Darrington area has great potential and opportunity.”

To help in this effort, Washington Bikes has stepped in with its policy expertise; currently, the nonprofit is working with a number of strong partners to make a compelling case for bike tourism as a strategic part of their economic recovery strategy.

Recovery efforts have resulted in rapid cleanup of many miles of the trail, by virtue of the cross-collaboration—facilitated by Washington Bikes—of local, state and federal officials working with passionate community groups and trail advocates. Immediately after the landslide, Washington Bikes successfully advocated for the Whitehorse Trail to be a recipient of federal disaster assistance, and also collaborated on efforts to secure state grants to support improvements needed for the creation of the 27-mile trail for bikers, hikers, equestrians and river rafters.

A federal Workforce Development grant (which provides jobs for people who have faced long-term unemployment or job displacement) put 80-plus people to work clearing and grading sections of the trail. These people live in the immediate area and, therefore, get to enjoy the fruits of their labors with long walks on the Whitehorse Trail corridor.

At a recent public event to celebrate the progress of the trail and its future potential—which was attended by Congressional representatives and many state and local officials—Snohomish County Parks and Recreation Director Tom Teigen said enthusiastically, “The partnership we’ve put together is really incredible; local, state, federal, private donations have all come together to get us to this point. And we’re here today thanks to Washington Bikes helping us connect the dots to be poised for even more progress on the trail.”

An anonymous couple has donated more than $300,000 to the effort, enabling Snohomish County to repair and reinforce numerous bridges along the trail, which will further aid the implementation of additional trail improvements. Additionally, this donation, together with investments by Snohomish County Parks and Recreation and federal disaster relief funds for cleanup and repair, is providing the matching funding for a proposal to the Washington State Department of Transportation’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Grant Program in the upcoming legislative session, a grant program that Washington Bikes will be advocating to expand to create more opportunities for trails like the Whitehorse.

The turnaround from the landslide’s devastation is remarkable. The Whitehorse Trail has gone from a long-term vision to a short-term priority. Through the power and momentum of partnerships, this trail, and the larger trail network it will help create, will soon be a transportation and recreation amenity—helping the people of Snohomish County rise from tragedy and bringing in a new era of economic prosperity.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/october/15/rising-from-tragedy-progress-partnerships-and-potential-on-the-whitehorse-trail/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/october/15/rising-from-tragedy-progress-partnerships-and-potential-on-the-whitehorse-trail/Wed, 15 October 2014 19:09:17 Keep the Garden State GreenLeeann Sinpatanasakulhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/october/15/keep-the-garden-state-green/There are exciting things happening in my home state of New Jersey. This November, residents have an opportunity to vote on a ballot measure that will keep the Garden State green and preserve it for generations to come.

If passed, the Clean Water, Open Space, Farmland and Historic Preservation Dedication (Public Question 2) would provide an estimated $117 million per year, starting in 2019, to conserve and care for natural areas and open space, farmland, historic sites and flood-prone areas.

If it passes, Public Question 2 will ensure that new funds are set aside for open space and allow local communities to use these funds for maintenance of existing trails and the creation of new trails.

Question 2 will require no new taxes. The state already dedicates 4 percent of the money collected from the Corporate Business Tax to help pay for some environmental programs. Theballot measure changes how some of the programs are funded and raises the amount to be set aside for open space from 4 percent to 6 percent.

Watch this short clip: Vote Yes On Public Question 2 On November 4th

Question 2 isn’t only a win for trails. It’s a win for land and water conservation, the natural places we care about, the clean drinking water we depend on, the farmland economy that gives our state its name and the historic places that define our heritage.

By voting “Yes” on Question 2, New Jersey residents can preserve today’s quality of life for future generations to come. Vote “Yes on 2” on Nov. 4!

Helbing has been leading hiking expeditions for nearly two decades, exploring his home state of New Jersey and the surrounding regions—but these are no ordinary excursions. Every Sunday, a group of intrepid adventurers sets out on a trek of 15 to 20 miles, exploring a different part of New Jersey or the surrounding area.

A self-proclaimed “lifetime hiker,” Helbing’s hiking résumé is long, and he has no intention of stopping anytime soon. During his 18 years of leading excursions, he has hiked the length of the Appalachian Trail eight times over. (Tack on another 4,400 miles if you include his repeat hikes!) He recently finished hiking every oceanfront beach in the Garden State, and he’s only a handful of hikes away from covering the entire perimeter of New Jersey.

In the state with the highest population density in the nation, some may ask what is so captivating about New Jersey. Could it really be so great to hike around a state where 90 percent of the population lives in an urban area?

According to Helbing, there is a lot to the state that people overlook.

“There is something for everyone in New Jersey,” he says. “[It’s] very diverse ecologically, geologically and historically. You can never get bored with it.”

He waxes poetic about the state’s rich railroad history and could talk for hours about the geology of New Jersey, but at the end of a hike, it’s not a specific destination or one highlight that leaves Helbing coming back for more. It’s all the parts coming together that create the memorable outing.

“Some people wouldn't consider some of the places we visit a destination in and of themselves, but when combined with other locations in the form of a long hike, we build a greater experience,” he says. “We can visit a small museum for example, or a minor overlook, an interesting rock formation, whatever odd little thing that no one in their right mind would drive four hours to visit. But you see, people do drive four hours to do my hikes, because the experience is the sum of its parts.”

The origins of the famous “Mike Hikes” go back to Helbing’s 17th birthday. Instead of having a party, he decided to lead a 20-mile hike in Warren County. “That was the start of it all,” he reminisces. The initial outing turned into a weekly hiking group, which he continued to lead throughout college and beyond.

Since then, he has formalized the group under the auspices of his nonprofit organization, Metrotrails. The group is dedicated to assisting in the planning, development, maintenance and promotion of trail systems in the New York/Philadelphia metropolitan area. Group hikes focus on the natural and historic aspects of their routes as well as ensuring the preservation of these aspects for years to come.

These hikes aren’t for the faint of heart; folks who have taken part in a “Mike Hike” recommend being prepared for anything and everything, and according to Helbing, Metrotrails attracts the type of people who want “a little something more” in the way of a hike.

You never know what you’ll find with Helbing leading the way, but his enthusiasm makes it easy to embrace the adventure. “I’m totally obsessed with this experience,” he admits. “I’m just a junkie for this stuff.”

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/october/10/meet-mike-helbing-new-jersey-native-urban-explorer-lifetime-hiker/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/october/10/meet-mike-helbing-new-jersey-native-urban-explorer-lifetime-hiker/Fri, 10 October 2014 13:37:33 Pop Up Bike Clinics Tune Up Camden NeighborhoodsKatie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/october/06/pop-up-bike-clinics-tune-up-camden-neighborhoods/A green box of a trailer attached to a purple bike rolls through a neighborhood in Camden, N.J., on a hot summer morning. It’s only 11 a.m., but the sun is already at full strength.

Akram Abed, manager for RTC’s Camden office, is the pilot of this craft, but he doesn’t act alone. He’s got a team in tow, and their mission is to fix bikes and connect with the neighborhoods throughout the city of Camden. The team opens the trailer filled with tools, sets up their bike stands and lays out fresh fruit for patrons in anticipation of their arrival. Now, they are ready to crank out repairs.

The first people to approach are typically kids, who mistake the green pop-up trailer for the ice cream man. When the repair team tells them that it’s not ice cream, but bike repairs, that are on the menu, they’re rarely disappointed.

“Their eyes get big, and they say, ‘Oh! I got a bike in my basement! I’ll be right back!’” says Jackey Melton, an intern for the Student Conservation Association and one of the organizers for the pop-up bike clinics. “It’s like we’re inviting them to come play. They come running back with their bikes: broken, twisted, rusty, whatever.”

According to Melton, grandmothers often come out with all their grandkids in tow. “They’ll have four or five broken bikes with them,” says Melton. “It’s like a broken bike is contagious!” Of course, everybody is welcome; as the repair team fixes the bikes, they are in turn treated to stories and discussion about the local neighborhoods from their patrons. It’s a win-win.

Over the course of the two years that the pop-up bike clinics have been in action, the repair team has fixed more than 600 bicycles and interacted with every pocket of the Camden community. The idea for the pop-ups came from Abed’s experiences leading community bike rides, during which he’d invite kids in the neighborhoods along the routes to join in.

“We’d invite them to join us, but most of the time, their reactions were, ‘I have a bike but it’s broken,’” says Abed. “The bikes exist, but they are out of commission.”

According to Abed, to get their bikes repaired, Camden residents have to go into Philadelphia or out to the suburbs, and those are not options for a lot of people. But thanks to the pop-up bike clinics, the repairs can be done in their own neighborhoods. And what makes the setup even better? It’s free of charge.

There isn’t much that the bike-repair dream-team can’t handle, but that’s not to say that it’s always smooth sailing. In fact, sometimes the biggest barriers are unrelated to bikes. For example, some neighborhoods have large populations of non-English speaking residents, presenting a language barrier to the repair team. But Melton is quick to point out that the team—dedicated always to the community—do their best to bring all bikes into tip-top shape.

She recounts a story of one such case on a stifling summer day. Through a lot of non-verbal communication, the mechanics were able to properly identify the issues plaguing a non-English speaking gentleman’s bike, as well as fix it up and show him how to do simple repairs. When his bike was fixed, he rode away—but then came back shortly after with a huge bottle of ginger ale for the pop-up crew.

“He really appreciated what we had done for him,” Melton says. “Even though we couldn’t really speak that well to each other, he was like, ‘You did something great for me, and I want to do something nice for you.’”

The pop-up bike clinics are engaging the community in a fun and practical way, and the impact goes beyond a simple bike tune-up. Abed always returns to each neighborhood a few days later and leads a bike ride around the area—along local streets and a nearby trail. It’s a way for people to try out their newly repaired bikes and see their own neighborhood in a new way. It is a way to discover what is in their backyard, Abed explains.

And after a ride on a trail, he’s often told by his participants that before the ride, they had no idea where the trail went or “how cool the trail is.”

“Riders are pleased with how safe it is on the trails, and how it feels like they’ve escaped the city, despite being only blocks away from their homes,” says Abed.

Indeed, for many members of the community, the pop-up clinics are less about fixing a bike, and more about changing the way that they perceive mobility. Paired with community rides, the pop-up clinics transform bicycles from toys to tools, offering a new independence and a lens through which to explore their community. And what’s the best part of the pop-up clinics for the repair team?

For volunteer mechanic Will Wooden, it’s the interactions with the clinics’ youngest clientele that are the true highlight. “Working with the kids is cool for me,” Wooden affirms. “They’re saying thank you; they are riding their bikes around. It feels good, you know?”

Juan Rodgers, another volunteer mechanic, says that learning new skills, the kids, and the love of bike riding are the three reasons that keep him coming back week after week. His basic understanding of bike maintenance has been transformed into a much higher level of expertise, and he’s able to transfer his knowledge to others immediately, putting the tools into the hands of those in the neighborhood.

And for Melton, the biggest payoff is being part of something greater than herself. “You become a really important part of the community,” she explains. “You might fix somebody’s bike one weekend…and see them on the other side of town the next weekend, riding their bike. They recognize you, and say, ‘Hey! You got me rolling again!’ It puts a smile on your face.”

She continues, “In the process of rebuilding that bike, you’re rebuilding the community. You’re bringing people together; you’re teaching them new skills. It really feels like we’re making these neighborhoods better places just by showing people that they can do this themselves; they can find a way to get around. And that’s really empowering.”

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/october/06/pop-up-bike-clinics-tune-up-camden-neighborhoods/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/october/06/pop-up-bike-clinics-tune-up-camden-neighborhoods/Mon, 06 October 2014 13:51:13 Out of the Rubble: New Jersey's Bayshore Trail Rises AgainKatie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/october/03/out-of-the-rubble-new-jerseys-bayshore-trail-rises-again/All through October, RTC is celebrating New Jersey's trails and bike/ped scene! From the shore to the highlands, New Jersey is a beautiful state that is often overlooked. We’ll do our best to highlight the trails and open spaces that residents of the Garden State know and love.

It’s the Phoenix of rail-trails.

The Bayshore Trail—a section of the Henry Hudson Trail—runs two miles along the shoreline of the Sandy Hook Bay. Also known as the Atlantic Highlands segment, this is a trail that has seen it all.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, the beloved trail was unidentifiable. Simply put, the trail was turned to rubble, with woodpiles in the place of boardwalks and standing water where the trail stood only days before. It was nothing like the trail that the community had cherished for years.

“Sandy changed the nature of the trail permanently,” says Maria Wojciechowski, executive director of Friends of the Monmouth County Park System, an organization that helps maintain the Bayshore Trail. “The trail was largely ripped apart, and some sections were turned to wetlands from the storm surge. It was destroyed,” she reports.

After citizens made sure their own homes were secured and their situations were under control, a lot of focus in the county went to the trail. Arguably, what makes this section of the Henry Hudson Trail so popular—its proximity to the waterfront and scenic views of Sandy Hook Bay—was also its downfall during Hurricane Sandy. But it was these memories of the once-great amenity that induced citizens—not long after the storm—to call for a revitalization effort.

The Monmouth County Park System, the agency that manages the trail, faced the daunting task of cleaning up everything under its jurisdiction affected by the storm. “We had more than 15,000 acres to take care of,” states Rich Pillar, landscape architect for the Monmouth County Park System. “But there was this groundswell of enthusiasm for this trail section, and people were using the trail even in its damaged state. They loved it that much,” he says.

“This trail is a people superhighway,” says Wojciechowski. “It was tough to keep people off of it, even though it was destroyed!”

The county publicly emphasized the closing of the trail due to safety concerns, and cleanup work, funded primarily by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster relief funds, began in earnest. But, just as things appeared to be on the right track, Mother Nature threw a curve ball in the form of a landslide that swept across—and wiped out—a major part of the trail. And shortly thereafter, a leak from a private outflow pipe adjacent to the trail halted repairs yet again. There was also pushback from adjacent landowners. The Bayshore Trail was being dealt one blow after another. “It seemed like every week, there was something else,” says Pillar.

But as the old adage goes: Fall down seven times, get up eight.

The community continued to demand the trail cleanup, and crews focused on getting the trail back in working order.

A major question posed by the county (an undercurrent of much of the Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts in the region) was how to rebuild with resilience as a priority. The answer for the Bayshore Trail was to reduce the number of structures. For example, a 600-foot-bridge section that was ripped out by the storm was re-imagined; the trail was detoured and the structure was shortened to 80 feet.

The rebuild is no simple task, and the Monmouth County Park System acts as the organizer for all the players that have a stake in the process, including FEMA, the county government and adjacent landowners. Currently, the trail is open but in primitive condition, and the county is ready to submit their permits for the final rebuild.

In the Spring of 2015, when trail restoration is complete, 20 benches funded through RTC’s Metropolitan Grants Program (with support by the Coca Cola Foundation) will be placed along the scenic trail at key viewing areas that overlook Sandy Hook, the Raritan Bay and the Manhattan Skyline.

It’s the trail that’s been served blow after blow and still has enough gumption to get back up again. Out of the rubble, the Bayshore Trail will rise again, better than new.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/october/03/out-of-the-rubble-new-jerseys-bayshore-trail-rises-again/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/october/03/out-of-the-rubble-new-jerseys-bayshore-trail-rises-again/Fri, 03 October 2014 17:10:23 Missouri Rail-Trail Just Got One Giant Step Closer to RealityKeith Laughlinhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/october/01/missouri-rail-trail-just-got-one-giant-step-closer-to-reality/We are pleased to share some wonderful news concerning our campaign to preserve the 145-mile Rock Island Line in Missouri for future conversion to a rail-trail.

The Missouri Central Railroad Company yesterday announced its intention to undertake the necessary steps to have the corridor “railbanked,” and to work with the State of Missouri to have it preserved for trail development.

This moment represents one of the great victories of the rail-trail movement over the past decade, and is a testament to the strong voice of rail-trail advocates and the growing recognition of the importance of trails and trail-use to communities everywhere.

Railbanking this corridor was the number one goal of our involvement with the Rock Island Line project – to make sure this remarkable asset was not lost but instead preserved in public ownership and made available for public use.

There is no doubt that the massive groundswell of public support for a rail-trail that RTC and local advocates mobilized in recent months convinced Ameren, the owner of the corridor, just how important this trail was to communities in Missouri. It is the reason we celebrate this victory today. As a supporter of RTC, you are part of that groundswell and you are the reason we celebrate this victory today. Thank you.

We thank Ameren for being so responsive to the hopes and ambitions of Missouri’s people and communities. We are also proud to work with local activists who envisioned the many benefits this trail will bring to their communities. Their hopes and ambitions include preserving public land for recreation and transportation, and bolstering local economies with trail tourism. These are also the hopes and ambitions of the national rail-trail movement, and you are a part of it.

We will pass on details of plans for the Rock Island Line as soon as we know more. But for now, this is a moment for you to reflect on, and feel great about, what raising your voice for trails can really achieve. The rail-trail movement is stronger than ever, and we’re glad you are with us.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/october/01/missouri-rail-trail-just-got-one-giant-step-closer-to-reality/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/october/01/missouri-rail-trail-just-got-one-giant-step-closer-to-reality/Wed, 01 October 2014 14:08:53 Top 10 Trails in PennsylvaniaKatie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/30/top-10-trails-in-pennsylvania/RTC asked the residents and visitors of Pennsylvania to tell us which trails deserve a Top 10 accolade. We were flooded with responses. Thank you! This speaks volumes to the enthusiasm and passion that Pennsylvanians have for their trails.

To close out Pennsylvania Month in September, we're pleased to bring you this list of Top 10 Trails in the Keystone State! Enjoy!

1. Great Allegheny Passage

Allegany (Md.), Allegheny, Fayette, Somerset, Westmoreland counties

We heard you loud and clear. The GAP is Pennsylvania's crown jewel of trails! The 150-mile trail—which spans two states along great rivers and across mountain passes—is a favorite of locals and visitors alike.

2. Allegheny River Trail

Clarion and Venango counties

If any trail in Pennsylvania gives the GAP a run for its money, it’s the 32-mile Allegheny River Trail, which is also RTC's September 2014 Trail of the Month! Scenery and wildlife are just two reasons why this one tops the list.

3. Pine Creek Rail Trail

Lycoming and Tioga counties

If you want to visit the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania, let the Pine Creek Rail Trail be your guide. For 55 of its 62 miles, the trail hugs Pine Creek, offering great views of dramatic rock outcrops and waterfalls.

4. Ghost Town Trail

Cambria and Indiana counties

The Ghost Town Trail has a spooky name, but the trail is anything but scary. You can pair your walking or biking adventure with an on-trail history lesson, thanks to interpretive signs about the old railroad towns, preserved blast furnaces and other historic markers.

5. Heritage Rail Trail

York County

History seeps from the 22-mile Heritage Rail Trail. The trail occupies one of the oldest rail corridors in the nation and passes through quaint turn-of-the-century villages like New Freedom, Pa. A lunch stop at the restored depot will fuel you for the remainder of your ride!

6. D & L - Lehigh Gorge Trail

Carbon and Luzerne counties

A critical connection in Jim Thorpe will makethis amazing trail even better. The pedestrian bridge over the Lehigh River will create 130 miles of continuous trail! Help make it happen; join in on the fun at the Bike for the Bridge event on Nov. 8.

7. Sandy Creek Trail

Venango County

The Sandy Creek Trail traverses some of the most remote and spectacular countryside in northwestern Pennsylvania. Impressive features of this 12-mile paved trail include tunnels and massive trestles like the Belmar Bridge, which crosses the Allegheny River.

8. Butler-Freeport Community Trail

Armstrong and Butler counties

Over the trail’s 20 miles, you will pass over burbling streams and cruise through shady forests and farmland. The scenery varies, but one thing stays the same: The folks on the trail are friendly and out to have a memorable day on the trail, just like you.

9. Oil Creek State Park Trail

Crawford and Venango counties

This trail has something to satisfy everyone. From fly fishermen to cyclists to cross-country skiiers, the Oil Creek State Park Trail pleases them all! The trail connects to Titusville via theQueen City Trail, further broadening the options for trail enthusiasts.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/30/top-10-trails-in-pennsylvania/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/30/top-10-trails-in-pennsylvania/Tue, 30 September 2014 14:12:37 Leveraging Federal Dollars to Create a Regional LegacySarah Clark Stuarthttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/29/leveraging-federal-dollars-to-create-a-regional-legacy/When all 750 miles of the Circuit are connected, Greater Philadelphia will have a trail network unlike any other in the country—connecting the urban, suburban and rural communities of the fifth-largest metropolitan region in the U.S.

Sarah Clark Stuart is deputy director of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia and chair of the Circuit Coalition. In honor of Pennsylvania Month, Sarah shares the story of how the Circuit has leveraged federal funds to maximize their impact on trail development. Projects across the country should take note: Finding funding for major trail networks is not easy, but by leveraging existing funds, prioritizing trails and capitalizing on existing relationships and connections, the Circuit is a shining example of how trail development is done successfully and how Pennsylvania is a trail state that is doing it right!

In early October, the Philadelphia region will celebrate the opening of the 0.75-mile-long Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk. This trail, which is built along the east side of the Schuylkill River, is the final in a set of trail segments funded by federal dollars in 2010 that sparked an incredible amount of interest, enthusiasm and prioritization of other trail projects around the region. As we celebrate the opening of the Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk, an even greater cause for celebration is the way in which federal funds have served as the catalysts for a region-wide trail network.

There are a few federal programs—run by different agencies—that provide funds that support active transportation. Each of these programs require matches from the project sponsor and, therefore, leverage local and county funds, other federal funds and, in some cases, private dollars.

Photo courtesy Sarah Clark Stuart

Trails are an important priority for the state of Pennsylvania, and dozens of studies have been conducted on many miles of trails. However, trails must compete with many other types of bicycle/pedestrian projects for the federal funds managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), and construction funding is highly competitive.

In 2009, TIGER (Transportation Investment for Generation of Economic Recovery), a federal competitive grant program initiated by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), created the first opportunity for the Philadelphia-Camden metropolitan region to prioritize its most “ready to go” trail projects and help move the needle on completing the region’s network of trails. Of the original, and very extensive, application submitted by the City of Philadelphia, the region was awarded a TIGER grant of $23 million for 10 (integral) projects.

Seven trail projects in the application were not funded—which was a disappointment to the surrounding suburban counties; however, the TIGER grant did ultimately benefit them. The grant prompted the William Penn Foundation, a local philanthropy organization, to make an unprecedented $10 million grant to fund a new regional, competitive re-grant program for planning, design and capital for trails. Over three years, more than 20 miles of trails were built, and another 25 were planned. In addition, the William Penn Foundation was inspired to work with the trail advocacy community to rebrand the region’s trail network—an effort that gave birth to the Circuit.

It was the spark from the TIGER grant, and the involvement and commitment from the William Penn Foundation, that has helped raise the profile and potential for all 750 miles of trails that comprise the region’s trail network.

The federal funds from the TIGER grant also brought certain projects to the attention of the community and reinvigorated interest in their development. This is absolutely the case with the Manayunk Bridge, a beautiful structure that spans a highway, two rail lines and the Schuylkill River between Philadelphia and Lower Merion Township in Montgomery County. While the project wasn’t among those chosen for the 2010 TIGER grant, being part of the original proposal brought the attention necessary for decision-makers to find other sources of funding beyond the TIGER grant. In an unprecedented short amount of time, the City of Philadelphia teamed up with Montgomery County, Lower Merion and local funding sources, including the William Penn Foundation’s new trail grant program, and the bridge is expected to open in 2015!

The 2010 TIGER grant was limited to 10 projects in two counties. However, it leveraged another $10 million for 30 projects in the nine-county region and significantly changed the dynamic of trail prioritization and construction!

As the Circuit continues to develop the 750-mile network, the leveraging of federal funds will continue in an effort to maximize the impact of every dollar spent for trails.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/29/leveraging-federal-dollars-to-create-a-regional-legacy/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/29/leveraging-federal-dollars-to-create-a-regional-legacy/Mon, 29 September 2014 14:48:13 Teacher Provides a Lesson in Trail BuildingLaura Starkhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/25/teacher-provides-a-lesson-in-trail-building/Personable, kind, decisive: These traits made Jim Holden both a good teacher and a trail visionary. While a professor of computer science at Clarion University of Pennsylvania more than two decades ago, he recognized the importance of preserving disused rail corridors for public use.

“Jim was the key to starting something that became huge,” says Allegheny Valley Trails Association (AVTA) President Bill Weller, who first met Holden as a seventh grade student back in 1967 when Holden was his math teacher. Years later, Holden bought a farm near Weller’s family-owned tire shop in Franklin, and the two launched a lifelong friendship rooted in biking and running.

The “something” that Holden started was a regional system of trails that today is coalescing into a 270-mile network known as the Erie-to-Pittsburgh Trail. Franklin—population about 6,500—now rubs shoulders with Philadelphia and Pittsburgh as one of only four Pennsylvania cities to be designated a Bicycle Friendly Community.

AVTA began in 1990 when Holden, along with fellow university professor David Howes, co-founded the nonprofit group. The goal: to acquire local unused rail corridors for conversion to rail-trails. “Both Jim and I were avid cyclists,” says Howes. “In northwestern Pennsylvania, there were very limited areas for safe cycling. We thought it would be a terrible loss if these corridors went out of the public domain.”

As the organization grew, AVTA developed three rail-trails—the Allegheny River Trail, Sandy Creek Trail and Clarion Highlands Trail—that wind through 50 scenic miles dotted with trestles, tunnels and other railroad relics. “Building rail-trails is a very difficult thing to accomplish,” says Howes, “but Jim would never get discouraged. He was a perpetual optimist.”

Holden stayed active in AVTA until a sudden illness ended his life in November 2013. Filling Holden’s shoes has been difficult, says Weller. “When I go, I hope he’ll shake my hand and say, ‘Bill, you did a good job.’”

Republished from Trail Tales in the Fall 2014 issue of Rails to Trails magazine.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/25/teacher-provides-a-lesson-in-trail-building/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/25/teacher-provides-a-lesson-in-trail-building/Thu, 25 September 2014 18:14:56 Florida EIS Released: Now You Can Demand Trail Included in Rail ProjectKen Bryanhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/25/florida-eis-released-now-you-can-demand-trail-included-in-rail-project/After many months of waiting, an important moment has finally arrived.

Any Floridian that cares about their state should be interested in what impacts the All Aboard Florida high speed rail project will have on the environment, their community, and the people who live there.

Now is the time to have a close look at what All Aboard Florida is all about, and what it will mean for your community. The Federal Rail Administration has just released the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project, a study which finds there will be a number of negative environmental, social and mobility impacts.

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy believes that All Aboard Florida could be a great investment in the state - but only if it includes a rail-with-trail component. The inclusion of a multi-use trail in the All Aboard Florida design would improve accessibility to the stations, complement transit-oriented developments, and boost the livability of connecting neighborhoods.

Importantly, it will also mitigate a number of the expected negative impacts of the project, notably increased traffic congestion around stations and a need for more parking, reduction of public open space, and the safety concerns of a high speed rail corridor passing through residential areas.

If All Aboard Florida does not include a trail, the impacts on biking, walking, health and connectivity will be felt in Florida for decades to come.

Raise your voice for Florida trails. Sign the petition and urge All Aboard Florida to include a multi-use trail in their design.

Thanks!

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/25/florida-eis-released-now-you-can-demand-trail-included-in-rail-project/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/25/florida-eis-released-now-you-can-demand-trail-included-in-rail-project/Thu, 25 September 2014 14:22:40 Tackling Obesity Head On: Hospitals and Trail Groups Team Up to Fight ObesityElissa Southwardhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/24/tackling-obesity-head-on-hospitals-and-trail-groups-team-up-to-fight-obesity/September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, as well as Pennsylvania Month here at RTC. Our Healthy Communities Manager, Elissa Southward, shares with us what is happening on the health front in the great Keystone State and the vital partnerships that are being forged to combat the trends of obesity in Pennsylvania.

As the country struggles to combat the frightening trends of obesity, Pennsylvanians are teaming up to find a solution.

The statistics are sobering: The health of the nation is in a poor state. The good news is that just trying to reduce the amount of time spent sitting and increasing physical activity daily can have a significant effect. We hear it all the time. Physical activity is extremely important for both physical and mental health. Just moderate walking and regular bicycling can lead to a longer and healthier life!

Health leaders in Pennsylvania acknowledge the importance of increasing physical activity in the fight against obesity, and in the Philadelphia region, they are tackling the issue head on. A number of nonprofit hospitals have recognized the importance of investing in and promoting safe walking and biking facilities in order to increase physical activity and improve the health of their patients and employees—recognizing that multi-use trails, in particular, can serve as an effective prescription for better health and wellness. Trails can be used by everyone, and thus represent the broad interests of the communities served by hospitals. Additionally, partnering with advocates and trails managers is in keeping with the action-oriented and progressive ideas required to maintain their tax-exemption status.

Hospitals and trail groups are a natural fit; indeed, partnerships between them have great potential for creating healthier communities. The Circuit, a multi-use trail network that, when completed, will connect more than 750 miles of trails throughout the Greater Philadelphia area, has been the catalyst for building relationships between these partners.

The success of these collaborative efforts has exceeded expectations. Take the partnership between St Luke’s University Health Network and Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor (D & L), for example. Their aim is “to connect people to the outstanding opportunities along the D & L Trail while increasing health awareness and improving the health status of the community.” In an effort to promote a culture of wellness and a sense of community, the partners provide individuals and families with nutrition and exercise programs. They have also created the highly successful "Get your Tail on the Trail" challenge, where employees, patients and community members attempt to log 165 miles on the trail from May to November. The first challenge, which ended in November 2013, resulted in 2,400 participants who logged nearly 250,000 miles on the D & L Trail!

Due to the huge success and enthusiasm for the challenge, St Luke’s and D & L kept the momentum going with a smaller winter challenge that saw more than 3,000 participants log over 300,000 miles, despite the cold of winter! The largest challenge yet, which began in May 2014, has engaged more than 4,000 participants and documented over 340,000 miles; that's more than 13 trips around the circumference of the earth! Six schools have also adopted the model. St Luke’s is assessing the health impacts of these programs to show whether there have been changes in participant’s physical activity, weight and chronic disease risk factors.

Another successful partnership is between Lankenau Medical Center and the Friends of the Cynwyd Heritage Trail. The two groups co-sponsor a health-related seminar series on the trail on the third Tuesday of each month during the summer, appropriately titled "Trail Tuesdays."

Pennsylvania has seen the great value that trails bring to their state and the importance of investing in these facilities. The Philadelphia region in particular boasts one of the most complete and largest planned networks of multi-use trails for walking and bicycling in the nation. Thanks to the unique partnerships being forged between health professionals and the trails community through The Circuit, thousands of Pennsylvanians are hitting the trails and creating healthier lives.

The fight against obesity is far from over, but the efforts being taken in Pennsylvania show that through collaboration and relevant partnerships, the future can hold more than just sobering statistics. Communities across the country—take note!

On or about Sept. 16, 2014, CSX Transportation, Inc. filed for the abandonment of 1.18 miles of track within Knoxville in Knox County, Tenn. We are providing this information because it presents an opportunity to develop a real regional asset: a multi-use trail that can accommodate hikers, bikers, equestrians and other appropriate uses.

NEXT STEPS: If this corridor is suitable for trail use, we strongly urge local trail advocates, or an appropriate local, regional or state agency or organization, to take action now. A “boiler plate” letter (found here) can be filed with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) and the abandoning railroad using STB docket number AB-55 (sub-no. 736x). Filing this letter does not commit its authors to acquire the corridor; it merely gives time to develop a rail-trail proposal and undertake negotiations with the railroad. According to the information we have received, the deadline for filing this letter is Oct. 16, 2014. Even if this deadline is missed, there is probably still time to contact the relevant parties, since the railroad may have experienced a delay in filing all of the paperwork, or the STB may still have jurisdiction over the corridor. However, it is important to take prompt action. The STB posts all abandonment decisions and filings on its website, including the complete filing for this corridor. More information on the rail corridor, including a map, can be found in this filing, or view a clearer map of the approximate route here.

The STB has imposed a $250 filing fee for all railbanking requests. Entities filing a railbanking request may request a fee waiver or reduction, and government agencies will receive an automatic fee waiver. Throughout the process, make sure local government officials and citizen activists are kept informed of the project’s progress. We also recommend contacting your state trails coordinator or your state bicycle/pedestrian coordinator.

Both of these individuals are knowledgeable about state laws and resources and may be able to assist your community with this rail-trail project. Also, you may want to contact the abandoning railroad to add your name to their service list.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE: RTC’s website may provide valuable tools as you plan for a rail-trail, including how-to manuals, the Trail-Building Toolbox, our Publications Library and the Trails & Greenways Listserv for trail advocates and professionals. These resources can be found within the “Trail-Building” section of our website. If you take advantage of this information and other resources promptly, you will be well on your way to creating a successful rail-trail in your community. For more information, or if you decide to pursue railbanking, please contact our Trail Development Department.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/22/notice-upcoming-railroad-abandonment-in-knox-county-tenn/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/22/notice-upcoming-railroad-abandonment-in-knox-county-tenn/Mon, 22 September 2014 14:42:42 If It Passes, Everything Will Change. What If It Fails?Ken Bryanhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/19/if-it-passes-everything-will-change-what-if-it-fails/If you live in Florida, later this year you have the chance to take a vote on something that will, without doubt, change the state forever.

If passed, the Florida Water, Land and Legacy Conservation Amendment (Amendment 1) would provide upwards of $16 billion over 20 years for the protection and restoration of environmentally sensitive lands and water resources. This funding could be used in many instances to build and maintain trails.

Oh the things we could do!

The passage of Amendment 1 could help complete many high-priority trails projects, including the Miami River Greenway, the Atlantic Trail, the All Aboard Florida Rail-with-Trail, the Ludlam Trail, the Biscayne-Everglades Greenway, the M-Path, the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail and the River of Grass Greenway.

If you are a supporter of any of these projects, you have a strong motivation to vote for Amendment 1 on the Nov. 4, 2014 ballot.

But where will the money come from?

Amendment 1 requires no new taxes. Instead, it calls for one-third of the current "documentary stamp" tax paid on real estate transactions to be set aside for conservation measures.

This is not a new idea. These real estate transactions fees have been allocated to water and land conservation since 1968. But since 2009, almost all of this money has been diverted from its intended purpose and into the state's general revenues, resulting in funding for water and land conservation projects being slashed by more than 95 percent.

Amendment 1 would re-establish and commit that funding source.

We think investing in Florida's beautiful but fragile environment makes great sense for a number of reasons: tourism, the health and well-being of residents, the education of our children and, first and foremost, the ecological sustainability of this planet.

If you want to learn more about how you can support this great initiative, sign up to RTC's Florida Campaign, and you'll be on the list for all breaking developments from us regarding Amendment 1.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/19/if-it-passes-everything-will-change-what-if-it-fails/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/19/if-it-passes-everything-will-change-what-if-it-fails/Fri, 19 September 2014 14:50:27 Matters of Mobility: Adaptive Bicyclists in Pennsylvania Embrace TrailsKatie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/18/matters-of-mobility-adaptive-bicyclists-in-pennsylvania-embrace-trails/Hundreds of brand-new, custom bikes are hitting the trails in Pennsylvania, and their owners are filled with enthusiasm and vigor. No, they don’t belong to the racing team from the local bike shop, but the owners are just as passionate, if not more so.

Instead of carbon fiber frames and feather-light components, these bikes have three wheels, comfortable seats and specialized handlebars. The owners of these new bikes are children with disabilities, and the bikes are designed specifically to meet their needs while offering new opportunities for personal mobility.

For the past two years, the Pittsburgh, Pa.-based nonprofit, Variety the Children’s Charity, has been running “My Bike,” an initiative that provides customized, adaptive bicycles to children with disabilities. The program’s impact has been incredible; since its inception, My Bike has distributed more than 650 adaptive bikes to participants! The program recently expanded to West Virginia, and program coordinators have their sights on expanding the program further still!

The success of the “My Bike” program reflects an intense amount of support from the surrounding communities. Adaptive bicycles come with a substantial price tag, but according to Zach Marsh, community relations manager for Variety, enthusiasm and contributions from local residents have bolstered the strength of the initiative. “The [response] to the ‘My Bike’ program has been overwhelmingly positive; the community has really wrapped their arms around [it],” Marsh affirms. “It’s inspiring!”

The freedom granted by a new bike is felt by both the program recipients and their families, who say that these bikes are more than just machines; for many, the adaptive bike is a tool to achieve things much greater, including mobility, freedom and access to new places and experiences. It is the opportunity to share experiences together that people value about the bikes, explains Marsh, adding that the bikes open doors to families that they never expected. “A parent doesn’t have to stay behind with one child, and siblings can ride together for the first time,” he says. “It changes the experience for everyone in a really positive way.”

Take ten-year-old James Hogue, for example, who received his bike in March 2013. Since then, James and his sister Krissy ride together, and Krissy couldn’t be more happy about it! “The day that I rode bikes with my brother for the first time was one of the most amazing days of my life,” says Krissy. “It may be the very best day ever!”

Once the bike is granted, what’s next?

Many families that are part of the “My Bike” program have great options in close proximity to their homes, thanks to the hundreds of miles of rail-trails and multi-use trails that have been built around the Keystone State. And according to Marsh, for a lot of those families, they’re the first places they go.

“Trails provide safe places where parents and children feel comfortable,” says Marsh. “Traffic is not a concern, the trails have very little gradient to them, and the level surfaces are great for kids who are building new muscles from the new activity.”

Marsh is inspired by the enthusiasm and gratitude of the “My Bike” recipients with which he works.

“Personal mobility is often taken for granted,” he says. “But working with these wonderful kids, I’m reminded daily how much it means to each and every one of us.”

The first bicycle ever granted through the “My Bike” program went to Aubrey in Pennsylvania. Her excitement during her first ride is contagious! Check out this video of her first ride on her new set of wheels.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/18/matters-of-mobility-adaptive-bicyclists-in-pennsylvania-embrace-trails/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/18/matters-of-mobility-adaptive-bicyclists-in-pennsylvania-embrace-trails/Thu, 18 September 2014 14:58:59 Finding Common Ground for Balanced Transportation in PennsylvaniaLeeann Sinpatanasakulhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/16/finding-common-ground-for-balanced-transportation-in-pennsylvania/Trail advocates, highway construction groups, public transit, local government, chambers of commerce, farming organizations, tourism promoters and health groups: What do these strange bedfellows have in common? Answer: an interest in transportation that strengthens the economy, connects people to where they want to go and gives them choices for how they want to get there.

Today, the federal government and many states around the country are facing the same problem: our transportation infrastructure is crumbling, and to fix it, systems are in need of smart, long-term funding sources. With political gridlock at every level, finding a solution can be difficult. Last year, Pennsylvania proved to be a leader with a unique solution to this common problem. Enter: the Keystone Transportation Funding Coalition.

Founded several years earlier by transportation policy veteran George Wolff, the Keystone Coalition comprises more than 100 advocacy groups from seemingly disparate sectors but with an interest in making transportation work for Pennsylvanians.

The members of the Keystone Coalition—from highway construction businesses to chambers of commerce to trail groups and more—pledged that they would present a united front on transportation funding and stay united in the face of expected attempts by legislators to turn one group against the other and resort to more political gridlock. And when legislators tried to do just that? The Coalition didn't bite.

What were the keys to the group's success? "Unity and trust," says Wolff. Those were also their biggest challenges. "We were either going to sink or swim."

At the first meeting of the coalition, Wolff recalls that highway interests sat on one side of the table, public transit on the opposite and local government groups—who had previously been left out of discussions—at the head. "You could almost feel the electricity crackling," says Wolff. Later, biking and walking groups, as well as health organizations, would be added.

Tensions ran high for the first few meetings, but an early breakthrough moment kept the coalition together. During one moment, Wolff pointed out, "What's the point in having a bus system if there's no road to drive it on?" Slowly, the members began to realize that the different transportation modes depended on each other. Farmers needed roads to ship goods to market, roads couldn't handle commuter capacity, commuters needed public transit, and public transit needed places like trails so that people could safely walk or bike to a station. Members also realized they were working toward the same goal of an interconnected transportation system that works for Pennsylvanians, just from different angles.

In politics, the best tool for success is cooperation, but it is often difficult to achieve. The belief in a balanced transportation system, and the genuine trust and good faith between members, kept the Keystone Coalition going.

The result? In November 2013, the Pennsylvania legislature passed Act 89, a five-year transportation funding package for roads, rail, airports, seaports, transit, and even walking and biking. It includes $2 million per year for walking and biking to build trails, sidewalks, bike lanes and more, and $144 million in competitive funds that walking and biking projects can apply for. Most importantly, it represents a balanced transportation system that provides real choices for travelers.

With federal transportation funding operating on a short-term "fix," and states unable to plan for long-term projects because of the uncertainty, it is clear that transportation funding needs to be addressed, and soon. Wolff hopes that other states, and Washington, D.C., can follow Pennsylvania's lead and learn from the success of the Keystone Coalition. Finding common ground, working together and staying united will certainly be needed to overcome Washington's political gridlock in the months ahead.

"The Allegheny River Trail is one great vista after another."

Unparalleled natural beauty? Check. Welcoming towns with friendly people? Check. Unique historical sites and a smooth, easy riding surface? Check, check. The 32-mile Allegheny River Trail in northwestern Pennsylvania seemingly has it all for a perfect getaway. And it's on the cusp of being even better; peak fall colors are expected to arrive in early to mid-October; the trail, lined with oaks, maples, elms and other tree varieties will be spectacular.

"The Allegheny River Trail is one great vista after another," says Tom Sexton, RTC's northeast regional director.

"It's quite scenic, and you see wildlife constantly," adds Kim Harris, project manager for the Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry and Tourism. "Every time I'm on the trail, I see deer, and often wild turkeys and chipmunks galore. Many eagles are also spotted there because of the trail's location by the river."

Though the trail would be a worthwhile visit in and of itself, it's directly connected to or near several others in the region. It serves as a key component of the growing Erie-to-Pittsburgh Trail, a 270-mile network comprised primarily of rail-trails, which is currently 60 percent complete. Earlier this month, locals got to experience the trail system firsthand on a 60-mile memorial bike ride to honor the trail's guiding soul, the late Jim Holden, a man of warmth, drive and—most of all—vision.

"We had a wonderful event with about 50 participants," says Harris, who organized the ride and is secretary of the Erie-to-Pittsburgh Trail Alliance. "It rained, but it didn't dampen any spirits."

Twenty-five years ago, such a trail system would have been a far-reaching and unlikely dream. Holden, a university professor and farmer, seeing that there were limited areas for safe cycling in his community, co-founded a nonprofit group called the Allegheny Valley Trails Association (AVTA) in 1990. With fellow university professor David Howes, he worked to acquire local unused rail corridors for conversion to rail-trails, and the Allegheny River Trail was their first success. The Sandy Creek Trail and Clarion Highlands Trail later followed, offering dozens of scenic miles of trail dotted with trestles, tunnels and other railroad relics across Clarion and Venango counties.

"Jim was one of the visionaries for the Erie-to-Pittsburgh Trail and the founding president of the Erie-to-Pittsburgh Trail Alliance," says Harris. "He was an advocate for trails and for getting people to go outdoors and enjoy nature no matter what their skill level."

Belmar Bridge, part of the Sandy Creek Trail, crosses over the Allegheny River Trail and the river itself; Photo credit Vicki Schooley.

Right off the bat, as one travels down the Allegheny River Trail, you know you're in for a treat. Just five miles from its starting point in Franklin is the Belmar Bridge, its crisscrossing rusty-red beams a striking contrast to the tree-covered hillsides and the dark blue waters of the Allegheny, which it spans. The bridge, dating back to 1907, is part of the 12-mile Sandy Creek Trail, running above the Allegheny River Trail and unfurling east and west from the river. The two trails are linked by a stairwell, but a switchback is planned to make the connection more bike and wheelchair friendly; construction is likely to be completed next year.

For much of the journey, the river—designated a National Wild and Scenic River—is by your side. "It's very popular with local canoers and kayakers," says Bill Weller, AVTA president. "It's not unusual to see 50 to 100 canoes and kayaks on the river in the summertime. It's heavily used for water recreation."

Two other highlights of the trail are its tunnels, both with dog-leg bends, so as one peers down their inky blackness, there's no metaphorical light at the end of the tunnel. There are reflectors down the center and off to the sides to guide the way, but riders will need headlights for the venture. However, Harris notes that there is a friendly, retired gentleman who lives between the two tunnels who greets passersby, providing drinking water and headlamps to the unprepared.

Photo from inside the tunnel credit Tom Bilcze.

Though bridges and tunnels make for a fun adventure, the Allegheny River Trail also offers something unusual for a rail-trail: petroglyphs. At about the eight-mile mark, right on the riverbank, sits Indian God Rock, a large sandstone boulder on which one can still see carvings of animals and people believed to have been created by Native Americans around A.D. 1200.

The main spine of the trail ends in Emlenton, but after a three-mile gap, a short, paved segment of trail picks up again in Foxburg and continues 2.6 miles south to end near the community of Parker. Unfortunately, there's currently no easy way to navigate the gap by bicycle, but AVTA has their sights on closing the gap and is negotiating with the landowners there.

"We're working on the right-of-way between Emlenton and Foxburg," says Weller. "Right now, it's an overgrown railroad grade."

Photo of the trail on a summer day credit Tom Bilcze.

Residents of Foxburg are eager for the connection. The charming riverfront community offers restaurants, lodging, a winery and other businesses that could see a noticeable boost from bike tourists. The town also has the distinction of having the oldest continuous golf course in the United States; it was built in 1887.

"There has been increased excitement within the last two years," says Harris. "You can just feel it. People are really talking about the trail."

Sexton adds, "Venango County is very rural. To have this type of trail system there is impressive. If you want to move somewhere with access to a really great rural trail system, this is the place to go. There's nowhere else like it."

The future looks bright for this already popular and well-loved amenity. With the closing of its gap and the build-out of the Erie-to-Pittsburgh Trail network, it promises to only get better.

"Thank goodness for people with dreams," says Weller of his friend and mentor, Jim Holden.

Do you enjoy and want to support our Trail of the Month feature? Any extra contribution you're able to make helps us stay at the forefront of covering trails and trail projects around the country. Thank you for reading and supporting this feature!

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/16/pennsylvanias-allegheny-river-trail/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/16/pennsylvanias-allegheny-river-trail/Tue, 16 September 2014 13:09:59 Putting Safety First: U.S. DOT Takes Major Step Forward to Prioritize Safety for Bicyclists and PedestriansLeeann Sinpatanasakulhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/15/putting-safety-first-us-dot-takes-major-step-forward-to-prioritize-safety-for-bicyclists-and-pedestrians/Last week, U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) Secretary Anthony Foxx announced the department’s new plan to increase walking and biking and reduce pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities. The initiative seeks to improve safety by supporting better infrastructure for walking and bicycling, and providing research and tools for local governments and advocates.

RTC, alongside other advocacy groups and trail users like you, has long promoted the importance of safety for pedestrians and bicyclists, especially through the creation of safer active-transportation networks. With this announcement from the U.S. DOT, the highest level of government is showing that it has received the message and has begun prioritizing safer networks for walking and biking.

We know the safest experiences are when pathways connect to form a continuous network, instead of when they end abruptly and users are forced to walk or bike alongside cars in the roadway. Physically separated from the road, trails provide the gold standard in terms of objective and perceived safety—and trail networks allow people to safely get to where they need to go. RTC and the Partnership for Active Transportation have consistently advocated for investments to build networks of trails, sidewalks and bike lanes that make our communities safer.

We are pleased to hear that the U.S. DOT is stepping up its safety efforts by promoting networks and closing the gaps. In order to have safer communities, the U.S. DOT announced that it will first undertake walking and biking assessments in every state to understand the extent of safety needs. The agency also announced that it will update existing resource guides and issue new resources to assist designers, engineers and advocates when planning and constructing trails, sidewalks and bike lanes.

Secretary Foxx’s announcement and the U.S. DOT’s new commitment to safety are important first steps, but without a financial commitment from Congress, state and local governments will not have the resources necessary to provide safe facilities for pedestrians and bicyclists. RTC will continue to work with members of Congress to see that state and local governments receive the funding they need to connect networks, provide specific solutions to improve safety and monitor safety performance. The U.S. DOT’s initiative provides us with a newly engaged federal partner. Working together with our local advocates and the U.S. DOT, we can work toward a world where pedestrian and bicyclist injuries are a thing of the past.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/15/putting-safety-first-us-dot-takes-major-step-forward-to-prioritize-safety-for-bicyclists-and-pedestrians/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/15/putting-safety-first-us-dot-takes-major-step-forward-to-prioritize-safety-for-bicyclists-and-pedestrians/Mon, 15 September 2014 15:14:44 History Happened Here: How the Switchback Railroad Inspired the Invention of the Roller CoasterJames Porterfieldhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/12/history-happened-here-how-the-switchback-railroad-inspired-the-invention-of-the-roller-coaster/The Switchback Gravity Railroad, built in 1827, was only the second railroad built in America. It ran nine miles, hauling coal from Summit Hill down to the town of Mauch Chunk and the Lehigh Canal in east central Pennsylvania.

As the name implies, it relied on gravity, with mules hauling the empty cars back up the hill.

By 1844, the line's success and subsequent traffic necessitated a separate “back track” for empties. This created an 18-mile, figure-8 track plan, with the empties pushed up two steep grades by a steam-powered contraption that emerged from beneath the rails.

During non-peak hours, the railroad offered rides along the route for the public, in specially outfitted cars. Following the line's dramatic descents and loops, these cars could attain speeds of up to 50 miles per hour. One patron described it as a "hair-raising trolley ride." In the 1870s, the route, by then devoted exclusively to hauling passengers, became one of the nation's first tourist railroads. Only Niagara Falls exceeded the site's 75,000 annual visitors. This wild ride—in which carloads of passengers plunged at high speeds from steep peaks—served as the model for the first roller coaster, introduced on Coney Island in 1884.

By the 1930s, the popularity of the automobile and onset of the Great Depression resulted in the closure of the Switchback, and the last car descended the hill in 1933. The railroad was sold for scrap in 1937.

In 1954, the town of Mauch Chunk was renamed Jim Thorpe, and today that city serves as a trailhead for both the 18-mile Switchback Railroad Trail and the 26-mile D & L Trail/Lehigh Gorge State Park Trail. The Switchback's down track is, of course, the easier of the two routes, with a hard-packed dirt surface and the same grade that made the route popular more than 150 years ago. Several bike shops in Jim Thorpe offer shuttles to the Summit Hill trailhead.

Early silent filmmaker Lyman H. Howe, famous for thrilling footage shot from the front of fast-moving trains, includes "Famous Ride on a Runaway Train" in his body of work. Considered a classic, Howe released versions in 1908, 1914 and 1921. They include footage reportedly shot on the Switchback.

A six-minute, 1921 version of the Howe film released in New Zealand is part of an anthology of 12 silent films now available from the National Film Preservation Foundation. Titled Lost and Found: American Treasures from the New Zealand Film Archive, the 198-minute DVD is available from Image Entertainment and elsewhere.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/12/history-happened-here-how-the-switchback-railroad-inspired-the-invention-of-the-roller-coaster/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/12/history-happened-here-how-the-switchback-railroad-inspired-the-invention-of-the-roller-coaster/Fri, 12 September 2014 15:20:49 Awaiting a Decision in Missouri, We Ponder the Great PossibilitiesJake Lynchhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/11/awaiting-a-decision-in-missouri-we-ponder-the-great-possibilities/Rail-trail supporters in Missouri and across America have been holding their breath these past few weeks as they await a decision that could have lasting ramifications for the state.

What will be Ameren's decision on the fate of the 145-mile Rock Island Line corridor? Will it be sold into private ownership or preserved in public ownership for development of a rail-trail? We expect an announcement any day.

Here at RTC, too, everyone has their fingers crossed. All our staff members feel the weight of an opportunity that comes along but once in a very long while: the chance to preserve a connected corridor of such length is rare, and getting rarer.

It's why we stepped forward and made a bid that, if accepted by Ameren, will result in the corridor being donated to Missouri State Parks and preserved through railbanking.

Although a single rail-trail of 145 miles would be one of the longest in the country, what's particularly exciting is the corridor's connection in Windsor to the iconic 237-mile Katy Trail. Looking at this map, you can see that, together, the two rail-trails would create a loop of almost 400 miles and a remarkable destination for trail tourists.

Looking further ahead, these connected rail-trails would form the core of a trail system stretching more than 500 miles across the entire state, ultimately connecting St. Louis and Kansas City. Very cool.

So what's happening now?

Ameren Missouri, the utility company that owns the corridor, is weighing up a number of bids for the corridor—ours among them. We are not certain when they will make their decision, but rest assured that we will let you know as soon as they do.

Meanwhile, the people of Missouri are super excited for the benefits that such a destination trail system would bring to their communities. Mike Hendricks' story in the Kansas City Star yesterday offers a unique insight into how much Missouri businesspeople and leaders have riding on the proposal: "It's a great, great opportunity for Missouri," says Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders.

Whether no news is good news, at the moment we can't say. What we can say is that it is because of the people that contributed to our Rock Island Line campaign and our thousands of supporters that we are able to maintain a legal and trail assistance staff that can respond to opportunities like this one, and fight to preserve rail corridors for trail development nationwide.

Stay tuned. And breathe. But keep those fingers crossed.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/11/awaiting-a-decision-in-missouri-we-ponder-the-great-possibilities/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/11/awaiting-a-decision-in-missouri-we-ponder-the-great-possibilities/Thu, 11 September 2014 09:59:23 Great Adventures on the GAP: Memoirs of an 11-Year-Old BicyclistMae Nagelhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/09/great-adventures-on-the-gap-memoirs-of-an-11-year-old-bicyclist/RTC is shining the spotlight on the state of Pennsylvania during September. When it comes to trails, Pennsylvania is doing it right! Check back throughout the month to learn how unique collaborations and forward-thinking agencies are coming together to help communities realize their trail visions and make Pennsylvania a leader in the trails world.

We want to extend a special thank you to Mae Nagel and her father David for this very heartfelt and very candid peak at their recent bike trip through part of the Great Allegheny Passage in Pennsylvania!

When my dad told me we should take a father-daughter bike trip along the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP), I wasn’t really sure what to expect. First, we realized that I needed a new bike because my other one was too small, so we went to a bike shop. I was so excited about getting a shiny, brand new bike!

On Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 5, at 4:15 p.m., after a piano lesson we were late to (and missed), we set out. We got to Café Bruges in Carlisle, Pa., around 6:30 p.m. for dinner. I had corned beef for the first time, and their Belgian fries were delicious! We also had delicious chocolate mousse for dessert. Then we set out for the Lodge at Chalk Hill in western Pennsylvania where we would begin our adventure.

On Wednesday morning, we woke up to cold, rainy weather. We thought to ourselves, Oh no! It can’t be raining. We were very disappointed. I guess singing “Rain, rain, go away, don’t come back until…Sunday!” really works because the rain stopped, and the sun came out. Hooray! We were so relieved. We drove to the start of the GAP in Connellsville, where we loaded up our bikes with panniers, sleeping bags, a tent and luggage of all sorts. The best part was putting my teddy bear, Beary, in my pannier with his head sticking out so he could watch the scenery.

At the very beginning of the trip, the trail was paved, so it was easy riding and smooth. After about a mile, the trail was flat with packed gravel. I was really excited, but after about nine miles, I was surprised we had only gone that far. We kept plugging away, but after a while I was really anxious to get to our midway point in Ohiopyle. I was wishing I had a super power that would make me be in Ohiopyle—right then and there.

Experiencing Challenges

After that, when I thought we’d gone three more miles, my dad checked his odometer and realized we had only gone one. “Ugh!” It wasn’t that bad, though, because we had snacks and played games like 20 Questions and This or That while we were riding, which made the time pass more quickly. Along the way we saw waterfalls that were pretty and picturesque. The trail was peaceful, and there were nice overlooks. Thinking back, though, we were like Dory in Finding Nemo, singing, “Just keep swimming; just keep swimming.” I learned to just keep going.

Finally, we arrived in Ohiopyle, where we decided that going the additional 11 miles to Confluence would be just too far. I admit I was a little upset, because we didn’t have our car, and the town was unfamiliar. We had lunch and ice cream, but that didn’t help much.

We realized we needed to book the campsite for one more night (we were originally going to stay in Confluence for one night), so we asked around and finally found the park office. My dad called Ohiopyle State Park and asked if we could have a campsite for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, instead of just Thursday and Friday, and fortunately we could. The woman at the trail office directed us to where it was. We found the path to the campground, but it was a quarter mile of steep rockiness, and after a long, hard day, you don’t think anything can get worse, so that was hard.

We finally found the check-in office at the campground, and the lady was very nice. She gave us cookies. Then, we heard thunder and felt a gust of wind, and it started to pour. Now things really couldn’t get worse! Fortunately, the nice lady let us stay under the porch, and my dad pulled out some jellybeans! Yummy! When the rain stopped, we went to set up our tent, and everything felt better that evening.

Brighter Days Ahead

The next day, the ride back was a TON easier. Maybe it was because the route was slightly downhill, and we didn’t have our panniers—we left them at the campground—but we went eight to 10 miles per hour! I was relieved that we had gone halfway so quickly. I had so much fun, and the trail was beautiful.

It was really fun to watch the river and hear the train go by on the other side. There were lookouts and waterfalls, and benches at which to stop and have a snack. We arrived back in Connellsville in two hours and 20 minutes. It was a breeze! We got our car and drove back to the campsite. After that, we went to some natural water slides at Ohiopyle, and we stayed two more days.

On Friday morning, we visited Fallingwater, the famous Frank Lloyd Wright house, and in the afternoon we went to Cucumber Falls at the campground and enjoyed the nice water. The next morning, we packed our bags and headed back to Philadelphia.

Now that I know what to expect, I’m excited to go on my next biking trip.

For me, the 17 miles there and back were a big accomplishment, and all in all, it was an excellent adventure that I’d highly recommend.

Just don’t forget the jellybeans!

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/09/great-adventures-on-the-gap-memoirs-of-an-11-year-old-bicyclist/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/09/great-adventures-on-the-gap-memoirs-of-an-11-year-old-bicyclist/Tue, 09 September 2014 10:03:14 Pennsylvanians Pitch In: Maintenance on PA Trails Is a Community PriorityKatie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/08/pennsylvanians-pitch-in-maintenance-on-pa-trails-is-a-community-priority/RTC is shining the spotlight on the state of Pennsylvania during September. When it comes to trails, Pennsylvania is doing it right! Check back throughout the month to learn how unique collaborations and forward-thinking agencies are coming together to help communities realize their trail visions and make Pennsylvania a leader in the trails world.

Maintenance. It’s the least flashy part of the trail world, but it is one of the most important aspects of the work being done by trail organizations, municipalities and agencies across the country.

How different trails are managed and maintained reflects the variety of the trails themselves, and for trail organizations in Pennsylvania, leveraging local resources, tapping into dedicated volunteer pools and partnering with municipalities have been the tickets to the successful maintenance of the trails that Pennsylvanians know and love.

Taking the First Step

The first step toward effective maintenance is prevention, and proper design and construction up front make a huge difference down the road. “We put a lot of effort on the design to minimize maintenance needs,” reports Darla Kirkpatrick, president of the Redbank Valley Trail Association (RVTA). Measures were taken to “build it right,” with considerable forethought given to trail surfacing, vegetation management and drainage to lessen the need for costly maintenance in the future.

Couldn’t Do It Without ‘Em

Dedicated volunteers are the lifeblood of the maintenance force for the Montour Trail, and fortunately for the Montour Trail Council, finding qualified volunteers has not been a problem. Experienced and steadfast volunteers, many with extensive construction backgrounds, lend their hands, equipment and knowhow on maintenance projects of any size.

Occasionally, the Montour Trail Council contracts municipal maintenance crews for assistance; the National Tunnel paving project is a great example.

Numerous trails around the state have Adopt-a-Trail programs, where volunteers sign up to patrol their section of trail once a month and take care of minor issues—reporting larger issues to local managing organizations. Adopt-a-Trail programs depend on the donated time, equipment and passion of those loyal volunteers.

And, did you know? The Lower Trail in Western Pennsylvania has a secret weapon when it comes to maintenance—that of Retired Navy man Nelson Horton, who now volunteers as a maintenance supervisor. He makes maintenance decisions (under the purview of the board), coordinates related projects, and organizes and trains volunteer groups—all on donated time. Awesome.

The commitment to trails is evident when you examine how many volunteer hours Pennsylvanians log on trails annually, and trail groups have gained tremendous insight into effective volunteer management to make those hours count.

For Gil McGurl, Montour Trail Council board member, the main lesson one can learn about working with volunteers is the importance of gratitude. “When they are done, right or wrong, you say thank you,” he affirms.

According to McGurl, fostering the energy and enthusiasm that volunteers bring to maintenance projects is important in order to keep them coming back. He states, “We have a lot of volunteers that are out there because they love the trail and love what they are doing.”

While many users don’t think twice about what it takes to keep their favorite trail passable, safe and beautiful, others, like the countless volunteers of Pennsylvania, are pitching in their time, tools and know-how to ensure their trails are in working order.

It is a successful model that is working for the state and an inspiring example for trail enthusiasts across the country!

All over America, advocates, business people and community leaders are working tirelessly to provide safe pathways for biking and walking where they live.

RTC's job is to help them. We do this in a number of ways: by providing technical assistance, clearing funding and process hurdles, mobilizing local and state support and fighting for policies that support these local efforts.

And sometimes we do it by just handing over some cold, hard cash! It was our great pleasure recently to provide some funding to enable trail advocates in Florida to buy a section of a disused rail corridor and build new miles of rail-trail in their community.

The Palatka Trail, through Putnam County in the northern part of the state, is part of a grand effort to connect a trail system between St. Augustine and Lake City. Our latest Project Support Grant—funded by the Coca-Cola Foundation—is making possible the short extension of the Palatka Rail Trail west to U.S. 17.

By itself, it is only a short section of trail. But it is a significant link in the bigger effort, driven by Putnam County, the City of Palatka and Putnam Blueways and Trails, to connect to the Palatka-Lake Butler State Trail to the west and to the Palatka-to-St. Augustine State Trail to the east. And what a network that would be!

Now if only I had one of those giant checks...

If you live in the region and want to get involved with this terrific local trail building effort, contact Putnam Blueways and Trails at putnambluewaysandtrails.org.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/05/how-one-rtc-grant-will-unlock-floridas-latest-long-distance-rail-trail/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/05/how-one-rtc-grant-will-unlock-floridas-latest-long-distance-rail-trail/Fri, 05 September 2014 10:33:10 Putting It All Together: How One Pennsylvania Agency Is Turning Community Trail Visions into RealityLeeann Sinpatanasakulhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/04/putting-it-all-together-how-one-pennsylvania-agency-is-turning-community-trail-visions-into-reality/This month, RTC will be shining the spotlight on the state of Pennsylvania, which holds the title for the most rail-trails in the country. Additionally, there are great folks working tirelessly to maintain their trails, advocating for new connections and building out trail networks that will connect many communities in and around the Keystone State. In short, when it comes to trails, Pennsylvania is doing it right!

Check back throughout the month to learn how unique collaborations and forward-thinking agencies are coming together to help communities realize their trail visions and make Pennsylvania a leader in the trails world. There are too many great stories for just one month, but we’ll do our best to bring you the highlights!

For many, government agencies represent a land of endless bureaucracy, where dreams of new trails wither, bogged down by mountains of paperwork and red tape. Not so at the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), which has played a key role in creating new trails for over two decades. To date, Pennsylvania has more than 1,700 miles of trails.

So what makes Pennsylvania a leader in the trail community?

Sure, DCNR is staffed with knowledgeable, energetic staff willing to help build new trails, but it takes a number of elements to complete a trail—particularly funding. While most states rely heavily on federal funding for trails, the additional state-generated funding for trails—Pennsylvania is one of the few states that allocate such funds—allows DCNR to complete numerous trail projects each year. This historical commitment originated with voters in the 1980s, who wanted more access to the outdoors and a higher quality of life. Funding for trails has continued ever since, most notably in the form of the 1993 Keystone Fund for outdoor recreation.

Often, it is a group of interested citizens or a municipality that is first interested in building a new section of trail. With the necessary funding in place, DCNR is well poised to respond to and meet this local community interest.

Vanyla Tierney, recreation planner for the Pennsylvania DCNR’s Bureau of Recreation and Conservation, credits the tenacity of local trail groups and volunteers who work year-in and year-out to achieve their visions for trails in their neighborhoods.

In the beginning of the rail-trail movement, trails groups often were met with distrust in their communities, but that story has changed, according to Tierney. As trail users began to understand the health and economic benefits of having a trail nearby, the desire for trails gained traction, and today, trails are one of the most requested projects at DCNR. Now, with the help and involvement of DCNR, trail segments are being connected into larger systems.

“DCNR gets groups interested in trails and helps them build capacity," states Tierney, adding that DCNR staff also help groups effectively navigating the bureaucracy associated with trail development.

To respond to requests, DCNR also frequently cooperates with other agencies, particularly the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)—a refreshing change in a sea of isolated agency operations. Of the various initiatives on which they partner, the most notable is their collaboration to fund projects under the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP)—the largest source of federal funds for trails, walking and biking. Twenty years ago when TAP (then called “Transportation Enhancements,” or “TE”) was first created, leaders in both agencies recognized the benefits of working together to fund walking and biking projects, and they have done so ever since. DCNR tackles the planning phase of projects with state funding sources, and PennDOT handles the construction phases with federal TAP funds. In this way, federal and state funding sources work together to create great trails, which are enjoyed by Pennsylvanians and visitors alike.

In many ways, DCNR’s commitment to trails is a direct response to citizen demand. In surveys conducted by the agency to develop the 2009-2013 Pennsylvania Outdoor Recreation Plan, more than half of respondents said they wanted more trails, and state park visitors overwhelmingly indicated that building trail connections, within state parks and to nearby communities, should receive top priority.

“This is what people want,” Tierney says.

Pennsylvania voters have continually backed their desire for access to the outdoors with the funding to build facilities, and the pieces of the trail-building puzzle come together at DCNR.

Put it all together and it’s easy to see why Pennsylvania is a winning state for trails.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/04/putting-it-all-together-how-one-pennsylvania-agency-is-turning-community-trail-visions-into-reality/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/04/putting-it-all-together-how-one-pennsylvania-agency-is-turning-community-trail-visions-into-reality/Thu, 04 September 2014 10:36:28 California Approves $43 Million for Trail Projects in First Round of Active Transportation ProgramLaura Cohenhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/02/california-approves-43-million-for-trail-projects-in-first-round-of-active-transportation-program/Twenty trail projects in California got good news in August when they were funded in the first round of Statewide and Rural projects under California’s new Active Transportation Program (ATP). The funded trails reflect a range of urban, suburban and rural projects and include some rail-trails, such as the Humboldt Bay Arcata Rail-with-Trail and the East Bay Greenway (Oakland). The Napa Valley Vine Trail, which RTC has enthusiastically supported, also landed in the winner’s circle, securing $3.6 million for the six-mile Oak Knoll District segment, connecting the City of Napa’s existing “Crosstown Commuter Trail” at Redwood Road to the existing Vine Trail section in Yountville.

Competition was stiff for ATP funding, reflecting enormous pent-up demand for bicycle, pedestrian and trail improvements across all regions of California. In total, there were more than 700 applications seeking more than $1 billion in funding, with only about $360 million available for programming in this round. Of the 700-plus applications, 132 represented trail and pathway projects. The Statewide results just announced represent 60 percent of the $360 million pot; the remaining 40 percent is the Regional share, to be awarded by metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) in November 2014.

The upwards of $43 million approved for trail projects represents 19.4 percent of total funding awarded. See the full list of funded projects here.

Safe Routes to School projects also fared well, with 94 funded projects including components of this program. The ATP also prioritizes investment in disadvantaged communities; a total of 86 percent of all funded applications benefit disadvantaged communities in whole or in part.

RTC’s Western Regional staff was closely involved in shaping the legislation that created the ATP last year—consolidating existing federal and state trail, bicycle and pedestrian funding streams into a new statewide program designed to increase biking and walking trips while improving safety.

The ATP recognizes the importance of active transportation as an essential part of the statewide strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and encourage sustainable, healthy communities. Another important goal of the program is to ensure that disadvantaged communities share in the benefits of active-transportation investment, and this year, applications exceeded expectations.

This substantial investment in trails and other active transportation will be a big step forward in creating the active, healthy and sustainable communities that we all want to live in.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/02/california-approves-43-million-for-trail-projects-in-first-round-of-active-transportation-program/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/02/california-approves-43-million-for-trail-projects-in-first-round-of-active-transportation-program/Tue, 02 September 2014 10:47:49 Canal Towns Program Plugs Businesses into the Enormous Potential of Trail TourismJake Lynchhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/01/canal-towns-program-plugs-businesses-into-the-enormous-potential-of-trail-tourism/"When coal mining died and the railroads left, a lot of the towns really struggled. What the trail has done has brought that transportation corridor back to them. And it's actually helped to sustain businesses and revitalize the downtowns."

— Bill Atkinson, Maryland Department of Planning

In 1997, a group of foresighted Pennsylvanians formed The Progress Fund. Their mission was to support entrepreneurship in the economically depressed towns around the confluence of Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia, and in doing so create living wage jobs in this rural market area.

Built in a restored church, Beans in the Belfry in downtown Brunswick, Md., was very popular with Sojourn cyclists looking for good coffee, beer and café meals.

Tourism in this picturesque and historical region was always going to be a central component of their strategy, and it soon became obvious that one of their most powerful assets was the 141-mile Great Allegheny Passage (GAP), a nationally renowned rail-trail that connects many of the small communities that first inspired The Progress Fund's creation.

And so in 2007, The Progress Fund launched the Trail Towns program, designed specifically to help communities along the GAP convert their terrific location into sustainable economic activity.

"We could see the huge opportunities for rural businesses," says David Kahley, president, CEO and co-founder of The Progress Fund. "But, unfortunately, campgrounds and bike shops and ski-rental places in small towns are not a favorite of banks, so they were having trouble getting loans to get off the ground, to expand. But these are exactly the kinds of businesses that are needed if people are to recreate in the area."

Five years later, trail tourism along the GAP injects an estimated $50 million dollars a year in direct spending in these towns. And with business loans and assistance courtesy of Trail Towns, new businesses have opened, main streets are surviving the economic downturn, new jobs have been created and the population drain that accompanied the closing of primary industries and the railroad has been plugged.

Now, inspired by the great success of the Trail Towns program, the communities along the adjoining 184-mile Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park, better known as the C&O Canal towpath, have created the Canal Towns program.

Alan and Rose outside the Desert Rose Cafe in Williamsport, Md. Rose has made sure her café is cyclist-friendly, as she says trail traffic provides a large portion of her business.

The goal is the same—to help local businesses capitalize on the natural advantage of their location next to a bustling trail. Connecting downtown Washington, D.C., with Cumberland, Md., and now on to Pittsburgh via the GAP, the C&O Canal towpath has become a destination trail for riders from all over the world. By creating effective signage, marketing to bikers and hikers, building bike-friendly main streets and offering the services particular to long-distance rides, these towns hope that at least some of these visitors will stop for a meal, stay the night and discover the attractions just off the trail.

The Canal Towns Partnership Board, which meets monthly, consists of representatives of each participating municipality – Cumberland, Hancock, Williamsport, Sharpsburg, Shepherdstown, Harpers Ferry, Brunswick and Point of Rocks. They help each other overcome regulatory hurdles, or capacity challenges. The strength of the group is its collaborative power, the combined experience of its members, and the ability to better lobby state and federal government agencies as a regional body.

In some of the smaller communities along the C&O, businesses are still grappling with the potential of trail tourism and how to make it pay dividends. On Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's recent Rail-Trail Sojourn, the 240-odd riders and support staff occasionally encountered stores that were closed for the day of our arrival, and others that hadn't put on extra staff to cope with the sudden boom.

But others were clearly switched on. Community representatives met the riders at the trailhead to answer questions on where they could get a meal, or how to get to the laundromat. Bed-and-breakfast owners sent shuttle vans to the Sojourn site to pick up guests, and bike stores welcomed hot and thirsty riders with free bike washes and beer.

"The community here has been downsizing over the last 30 years, 40 years, with the major industries leaving. So tourism is a key part of what we've got to do," says Cumberland resident Doug "Hutch" Hutchins. When the Sojourn passed through Cumberland in 2007, he and a friend were surprised to see there was no bike store near where the trail enters the city. So they started one. Five years later, Cumberland Trail Connection employs four full-time and 12 part-time staff, all locals.

Doug Hutchins (second from right), owner of Cumberland Trail Connection, was inspired to start the business when RTC's 2007 Sojourn passed through Cumberland.

"It's huge for the local economy," Hutch says, as more than a dozen Sojourners mill about the store, many of them buying t-shirts, souvenirs and spare tubes. "We really put the feedbag out there today. We've got a free bike wash outside, we're doing a $5 chain lube special here in the shop, and we've got free beer for the riders over 21."

He says that on a normal weekday like this one, he would have just two people working the store. This day, with the Sojourn in town, he had six. And business was booming, largely because of his proactive and creative promotion. A few yards away, local volunteers were offering free ice-cream to the Sojourners, and providing advice on where to get a steak, the best Mexican or Italian restaurant in town, and organizing shuttle buses to hotels and laundries.

Hutch is one of a handful of Cumberland business owners taking a active steps to boost bike tourism in the region. He often stops in at stores around town to let them know about upcoming tours and events, and attends the regular Allegheny County tourism meetings. Any local business looking to attract more trail tourism will get an at-cost discount from Cumberland Trail Connection for things like bike racks, flags and signage.

That the city of Cumberland has such an organized and proactive trail business community has a lot to do with Bill Atkinson, whose role with the Maryland Department of Planning involves directly engaging businesses in Allegheny County with how to roll out the red carpet for trail visitors, and ways to make them stay and spend while they are in town.

Atkinson says a lot can be revealed to business owners by putting themselves in the trail user's shoes and seeing what they see passing by on the trail.

The iconic Bill Schoenadel and his saloon/general store/diner in Little Orleans, Md., is one of the features of a journey along the C & O Canal.

"Most of the time we find there needs to be signage. People don't know how to get to the downtown area from the trail, or they don't know where the businesses are," he says. "We work with the businesses on their hours of operation, to make sure they're available when there are going to be bikers in town. And we also look at what sort of businesses are needed—if there isn't a bike shop, how do we get one in town? If there isn't an ice cream shop or a place to eat, how do we get that? And we work with the local accommodations to put packages together so it's more convenient for bikers to stay overnight."

Having watched closely while the Trail Towns program made such visible economic gains for Pennsylvania and western Maryland, Atkinson is aware of what stands to be gained by making businesses along the C&O more trail savvy.

"From the businesses we're hearing that, on average, 14 percent of their business is coming from the trail," he says. "In a small community, when you can add just a little bit of income to these businesses it makes a huge difference."

And the word 'huge' is no overstatement. The most recent survey of the economic impact of trail use on towns along the GAP, conducted by Frostburg State University in 2010/11, recorded $50 million in direct spending from trail users in the communities between Pittsburgh and Cumberland.

Encouraging people to stay overnight has the greatest potential for visitor spending; getting tourists off the bike and perusing local shops for art and souvenirs, buying groceries. The average expenditure for overnight stay in 2010/11 was $114, up from $98 in 2008/08. Twenty-eight percent of trail users are spending the night, and 82 percent of those users spending more than one night.

These numbers are making entrepreneurs along the C&O very optimistic about their future as the next generation of trail towns.

"It's not just B&B's anymore, it's not just bike shops," Atkinson says. "This is having an impact on the entire community."

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/01/canal-towns-program-plugs-businesses-into-the-enormous-potential-of-trail-tourism/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/september/01/canal-towns-program-plugs-businesses-into-the-enormous-potential-of-trail-tourism/Mon, 01 September 2014 08:33:49 Ties That Bind: A New Trail System Is Creating—and Strengthening—Connections in Columbia, Mo.Katie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/august/26/ties-that-bind-a-new-trail-system-is-creating-and-strengthening-connections-in-columbia-mo/The Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program (NTPP) was created in 2005 under the federal transportation act, SAFETEA-LU. This program allocated $25 million each to four communities across the U.S. for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and programs. Between 2009 and 2013 alone, the program was responsible for averting 85.1 million vehicle miles traveled and 34,629 tons of CO2 emissions. This post rounds out our August focus on these communities and the lives that were positively impacted by NTPP. Check out the previous installments, including our look at SPOKES in Minneapolis, Minn., the Cal Park Hill Tunnel in Marin County, Calif., and trail connections to an elementary school in Sheboygan, Wis.

Columbia, Mo., is a city with a few tricks up its sleeve. Its charm starts slowly, unassumingly, disguised as just another Midwestern college town, but after spending some time there, exploring the tree-lined streets by foot or riding part of the trail system, you may just become hooked. And you wouldn’t be the first to fall under Columbia’s charismatic spell.

Resident Steve MacIntyre is one such example. He admits that sometimes he has considered moving to “greener pastures,” but whenever he weighs the pros and cons, he thinks of his family’s quality of life—and his choice is made.

He attributes Columbia’s burgeoning trail system—and the freedom of mobility it affords—as being an integral factor in his decision to stay. Most days, he doesn’t need to get into his car. In fact, he often goes his entire work week without driving.

“Sure, we could move to San Diego, and yes, the weather would be great!” says MacIntyre. “But how long would it take me to get to work? Could I ride there? Could I commute by bike like I can in Columbia?”

With the launch of the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program (NTPP) in the mid-2000s, Columbia set out to create an integrated system of trails to usher in a more active era of transportation. The existing trail system was well used, but it did not connect its neighborhoods to its downtown area, and the city recognized the need for safer options for people to navigate—by bike or on foot—to school, work, parks, businesses and commercial areas.

Chip Cooper is the primary founder ofPedNet, a Columbia-based nonprofit created to promote active transportation. It was Cooper and a group of fellow advocates that, decades ago, first helped introduce local policies in support of bike infrastructure and create bike master plans with a long-term trail vision.

“I didn’t expect to live long enough to see it completed,” explains Cooper. “But the federal funds [from NTPP] dramatically accelerated the plans, and because of the federal money, the community is going to experience a fully built network.”

He continues, “It’s bigger and better, it’s connected, and the community is changing the way they talk and think about alternative transportation.”

Much of the backbone of the system—13 miles of continuous, level trail—has already been built. According to Cooper, NTPP funds supported the creation of a series of “feeder” trails to connect neighborhoods to the trail backbone. The parks and recreation department is preparing to install markers that identify the network as the Columbia Trails System—a rebranding that signifies the realization of what Cooper and others imagined decades ago.

Cooper notes how the trail network is attracting people to Columbia. The city’s chamber of commerce and three universities, as well as businesses throughout the region, are seeing the value of the trail system and are using it to market the city.

"The trail system put the city on the map," says Steve Hollis, human services manager for Columbia and board member for PedNet. "We're seeing young professionals move to Columbia specifically for [this amenity]."

He continues, "I know two people personally, one physician and one small business owner, who chose to move to Columbia rather than other small cities due in large part to our trail system and other outdoor opportunities our community has to offer."

The trail network serves the citizens of Columbia on a day-to-day basis, and its magnetic force draws in and retains new residents seeking to engage with and improve their community. Take Walter Gassmann who, after moving to Columbia with his wife Allie in 2000, quickly joined the ranks of those fervently advocating for improved bike and pedestrian infrastructure. And with the changes that have and continue to take place, he’s hopeful.

Gassmann commutes to his job at the University of Missouri by bike, a commute he claims is one of the prettiest he has ever had, and for someone that has lived in multiple countries—he’s originally from Switzerland, was raised in Asia and has lived in Berkeley and San Diego—that’s no small claim.

“Some people ask me, ‘What are you doing in Missouri?’” says Gassmann. “But Columbia is a very pretty town, and the bike infrastructure is one of the reasons that I stay here.”

“Things are looking up in Columbia—not down,” he jokes. “And that is what keeps us optimistic and keeps us here.”

Special thank you to Steve Hollis, human services manager for Columbia/Boone County, for assisting with the development of this blog.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/august/26/ties-that-bind-a-new-trail-system-is-creating-and-strengthening-connections-in-columbia-mo/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/august/26/ties-that-bind-a-new-trail-system-is-creating-and-strengthening-connections-in-columbia-mo/Tue, 26 August 2014 19:08:45 Why Rail-with-Trail Is Critical to Florida's FutureKen Bryanhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/august/21/why-rail-with-trail-is-critical-to-floridas-future/Followers plugged in to RTC’s blog and Facebook feeds lately may have seen that we are in the midst of campaigning for a “rail-with-trail” to be included in the All Aboard Florida high speed train project.

But maybe you've found yourself asking more than once, “What exactly is a rail-with-trail?”

Simply, a rail-with-trail is a trail alongside an active rail line. Flipping the script on what we traditionally think of as “rail-trails” (repurposing disused rail corridors), rails-with-trails combine a number of transportation, recreation and safety benefits in one linear space. In more densely developed urban areas, in particular, collocating rail service with pathways for walking and biking makes tremendous sense, and is a creative and efficient solution to some of our most pressing transportation and environmental problems.

The two characteristics of rails-with-trails that most often surprise people are—

1. There are so many of them. There are more than 217 rail-trails in America, which means that more than one in every 10 rail-trails actually parallels an active line at some point. They are in our wide open rural spaces and through the heart of our biggest cities. Just like traditional rail-trails, all sorts of people use them for all sorts of reasons.

2. They have a remarkable safety record.We’ve studied activity on rails-with-trails over the last 20 years, and in all that time, there have been only two serious accidents involving a trail user and a train. Rail-with-trail has been proven to be infinitely safer than trails alongside roadways, partly because the movement of a train is so predictable.

A third characteristic, and this is where it gets interesting for people in Florida, is that rails-with-trails help rail transit systems function better by helping more people get to the stations without the massive costs and impacts of more parking and more traffic congestion.

That’s why pretty much every new transit system being built these days is incorporating biking and walking pathways into it; planners know that people these days get around by using a combination of modes, and increasingly, that doesn’t include a car. Innovative and forward-thinking systems like Miami’s M-Path, the West Line Rail in Denver, Colo., the Beltline in Atlanta, Ga., and the groundbreaking Tilikum Crossing in Portland, Ore., were all designed so biking and walking pathways connect to transit stations and from there connect to local neighborhoods, shops and employment centers.

If the All Aboard Florida project does not include a rail-with-trail system, unfortunately the result will be a transportation system of the 1950s rather than one suited to the Florida of the future. A $2.5 billion infrastructure project that will be out of date the minute it opens doesn’t seem like a great use of public funds, public land or public infrastructure.

On the other hand, the inclusion of a parallel pathway for walking and biking immediately improves the efficiency and capacity of the system, makes it serve a much broader population and mitigates a whole host of anticipated negative impacts, from traffic congestion to the division of neighbors and the deterioration of green space.

Not to mention, most of the communities along the route already have plans in place for biking and walking trails along the corridor!

This is why RTC believes a rail-with-trail is a must-have, and not an optional extra, for All Aboard Florida.

How about you?

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/august/21/why-rail-with-trail-is-critical-to-floridas-future/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/august/21/why-rail-with-trail-is-critical-to-floridas-future/Thu, 21 August 2014 19:38:35 Building Trails, Building Lives: Kids Are Connecting in Sheboygan, Wis.Katie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/august/19/building-trails-building-lives-kids-are-connecting-in-sheboygan-wis/The Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program (NTPP) was created in 2005 under the federal transportation act, SAFETEA-LU. This program allocated $25 million each to four communities across the U.S. for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and programs. Between 2009 and 2013 alone, the program was responsible for averting 85.1 million vehicle miles traveled and 34,629 tons of CO2 emissions. Each week during the month of August, we will highlight one of these communities, focusing on the lives that were positively impacted by NTPP. Check out the previous installments, including our look at SPOKES in Minneapolis and the Cal Park Hill Tunnel in Marin County.

For school kids in Sheboygan, Wis., trails are about connections. And thanks to the Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program, a nearby trail, completed in the fall of 2013, provides connections of all kinds.

Once a vacant field, the new trail allows students and their families a much more direct and safe route to and from the elementary school—as well as a vehicle to encourage and embrace long-term healthy, active lifestyles.

Connecting with Nature

Around 700 students, grades K-4, attend Sheboygan Falls Elementary School, and for many of those students, the trail is somewhat of an outdoor classroom.

Principal Lynn Bub says bringing kids closer with nature is the greatest benefit the trail provides the school, helping teachers redefine what nature is. She states, “It’s not somewhere you go—somewhere you have to make a trip to visit. Instead, we are trying to teach our students that nature is everywhere around us.”

According to Bub, exposure to the outdoors—regularly provided by teachers—allows the elementary school kids to see that time immersed in nature can be included in their daily lives.

“The trails helps us change the way students perceive and interact with nature,” Bub states.

Connecting to Health

A morning walking program, hosted by a handful of Physical Education teachers, encourages students to take a stroll before the school day begins. The walking program is voluntary, but the teachers have set up a ticket program to reward participation and occasionally hold a raffle for the student walkers, as well. Bub says the program allows kids to move their bodies, use their energy and get their blood pumping before being asked to concentrate on school work. Additionally, the trail provides leaders and participants a safe, separated path on which to run their morning program.

Connections to the Community

Kindergarteners, in particular, use the trail to walk to a senior center near the school to engage in activities with older residents. Forging these connections with the community is important for the leaders at Sheboygan Falls Elementary School, and the trail has opened up more of these opportunities.

“This wouldn’t have been possible without the trail,” Bub states. “We would have had to bus the kids over there, but now they can walk, they can be outside, and they can get some exercise.”

Some argue that children today are less active and less connected with nature. But it is places like Sheboygan that prove there is an antidote to sedentary, disconnected ways of life, and trails and other types of infrastructure that support walking and biking are integral parts of that equation.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/august/19/building-trails-building-lives-kids-are-connecting-in-sheboygan-wis/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/august/19/building-trails-building-lives-kids-are-connecting-in-sheboygan-wis/Tue, 19 August 2014 19:53:42 Here Comes the Tweetsie Trail! Local Tenacity Built Tennessee’s Newest Rail-TrailKristen Martinhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/august/14/here-comes-the-tweetsie-trail-local-tenacity-built-tennessee-s-newest-rail-trail/A brief history of the Tweetsie

The 10-mile stretch of corridor between Johnson City and Elizabethton—located on the historic East Tennessee & Western North Carolina (ET & WNC) line—had not had any rail traffic since 2003. The line was no longer profitable, and its owner, Genesee & Wyoming, Inc., began to weigh its options.

Local hikers, bikers and outdoor enthusiasts were among the first to imagine something great when they saw the unused railway. By the fall of 2006, Johnson City Mayor Steve Darden had initiated negotiations with the railroad owner to obtain the corridor. Local trail advocates had long been fans of the famed Virginia Creeper Trail, a rail-trail that meanders through Grayson and Washington counties in Virginia, and thought that Johnson City should have a rail-trail too. Led by trail development consultant Dan Reese, Friends of the Tweetsie Trail was organized in 2007. The group encouraged people in the region to write letters and send emails to local government officials in favor of a trail. Ultimately, the group submitted a petition with more than 1,000 signatures to Mayor Darden and city commissioners of Johnson City, Tenn. “This is an opportunity that could be one of the best things to happen for Johnson City, Elizabethton, Carter County and the region,” Reese is quoted as saying in a 2007 Johnson City Press article.

In 2009, when the ET & WNC informed the Surface Transportation Board of the railroad’s intent to abandon the corridor, RTC—through its Early Warning System—quickly notified dozens of local officials and trail advocates in Tennessee. Mayor Darden and Johnson City commissioners were in an ongoing dialogue with the railroad and well poised to begin therailbanking process (which allows for trail development in out-of-service rail corridors until a railroad might need the corridor again for rail service). Soon, they submitted a bid for the rail property, cooperated with its owners, the Genesee and Wyoming Railway, and successfully railbanked the corridor in April 2011.

Johnson City invested $600,000 to acquire the trail, having followed federal railbanking procedures. In 2013, the city formed the Tweetsie Trail Task Force—headed by Dr. Dan Schumaier—and sought donations and in-kind services from local municipalities, businesses, families and trail advocates from across the region to fund the construction of the trail.

Alongside officials from Carter County, Johnson City and Elizabethton, as well as local trail supporters, the Task Force eventually raised $475,000 for the construction of the first 4.5 miles of the trail!

Cut to present day

The first of three segments (with seven overpasses safely boarded and provided with railings!) is complete and ready for its first visitors. On Aug. 28, the ribbon will be formally cut, and on Aug. 30, the surrounding communities will celebrate with a Tweetsie Trail Trek. This family-friendly event will have live music, food vendors and a bike give-away. A 4.3-mile run/walk/bike ride on the new trail—beginning at Lions Field in Elizabethton and ending at Memorial Park Community Center in Johnson City, where all the festivities are planned—will serve as the marquee activity. Bicyclists will begin their nearly 10-mile out-and-back ride at noon. All proceeds will go toward the maintenance and development of the new trail.

The Tweetsie Trail Trek will culminate years of hard work by a visionary and persistent cross-section of supporters, including local elected officials and community advocates; the entire region is abuzz about the event!

Looking to the future

According to Dr. Schumaier, the final two segments of the Tweetsie Trail could be completed in 2015-16. When all 10 miles of the trail are constructed, it will run from Stateline Road in Elizabethton to Alabama Street in Johnson City, and connect with Johnson City’s greenway to East Tennessee State University. This will make it the longest rail-trail in Tennessee and push the state’s total rail-trail mileage past the 100-mile mark.

Welcome, Tweetsie Trail!

All photos courtesy Tweetsie Trail

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/august/14/here-comes-the-tweetsie-trail-local-tenacity-built-tennessee-s-newest-rail-trail/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/august/14/here-comes-the-tweetsie-trail-local-tenacity-built-tennessee-s-newest-rail-trail/Thu, 14 August 2014 20:31:31 An Engineering Wonder, a Bike Commuter’s Dream: The Cal Park Hill TunnelKatie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/august/12/an-engineering-wonder-a-bike-commuter-s-dream-the-cal-park-hill-tunnel/The Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program (NTPP) was created in 2005 under the federal transportation act, SAFETEA-LU. This program allocated $25 million each to four communities across the U.S. for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and programs. Between 2009 and 2013 alone, the program was responsible for averting 85.1 million vehicle miles traveled and 34,629 tons of CO2 emissions. Each week during the month of August, we will highlight one of these communities, focusing on the lives that were positively impacted by NTPP. Check out last week’s post on Minneapolis, here.

Christina Toms’ commute is the definition of multi-modal. From her front door in Fairfax, Calif., she hops on her bike and cruises down to the Larkspur ferry terminal. From there, she catches the ferry that brings her across the bay to the city of San Francisco.

That commute is possible in large part to the Cal Park Hill Tunnel, an engineering triumph that makes the vital connection between San Rafael and Larkspur in Marin County, Calif.

According to Toms, the Cal Park Hill Tunnel is connecting communities in ways that were never possible before. “The tunnel has made it so much more feasible to ride,” affirms Toms. “It’s far more direct, and it’s so much safer than before.”

The Cal Park Hill Tunnel opened in 2010, but its story began more than a century earlier. Built in 1884 and widened in 1924, the structure helped the railroads move freight along the 300-mile-long corridor between Tiburon to the south and Eureka to the north. During the lumber boom in Northern California, the railroad, and the tunnel that brought goods to its southern terminus, was used heavily. While lumber was certainly a large part of the railway’s load, trains carried a variety of freight over the years, but the railroad ended all service in 1985, and the tunnel sat empty. In the late 1980s, a partial collapse at the south end signaled the tunnel’s disintegration, and after a fire in 1990, approximately 20 percent of the tunnel was collapsed, with the remainder in various states of disrepair. It was time for the tunnel’s renaissance.

A pivotal point in the structure’s recovery came in 2001, when bike and pedestrian advocates, led by the Marin County Bicycle Coalition (MCBC), fought off a proposed parking lot for the Golden Gate Bridge to be constructed in front of the sealed tunnel entrance. This was a major victory, because it validated the efforts that had been undertaken up to that point. The vision of resurrecting the Cal Park Hill Tunnel was strong, and nine years and a tremendous amount of work later, on a foggy day in December 2010, the tunnel was reopened. The excitement was palpable as the dream was finally realized.

“It is amazing that we were able to retro fit and reuse this piece of infrastructure,” Toms says. As an engineer, Toms has an appreciation for the tunnel retrofit, particularly because of California’s geotechnical conditions. It is a huge undertaking to rehabilitate a partially collapsed tunnel; it is an additional challenge to make it seismically safe in a state known for ground-rattling earthquakes.

Before the tunnel was accessible to pedestrians and bicyclists, Marin County resident Carlos Rico says he traveled to work on segments of road on which he felt unsafe. “The traffic is pretty scary on those stretches, even for an experienced rider,” explains Rico. But with the tunnel in action, he can avoid those dangerous segments. “Yes, the tunnel saves me time, but far more importantly, it is a much safer route,” he says.

It is undeniably an asset to bike commuters, but according to Toms, the Cal Park Hill Tunnel serves more subsets of the community than just those who ride to work. “Every day, I see the whole range of people using the tunnel,” she reports. From speedy commuters in spandex on carbon fiber bikes, to folks in jeans and sneakers on their way to work, to people who use the path for fitness, Tom says more people discover and use the connector each day. “I see lots of pedestrians, strollers and families on the way to the movies or the farmers’ market,” adds Toms.

Andi Peri, advocacy director at MCBC, explains that the diversity of users is not limited to their mode of travel. Many people of Mexican and Central American descent use the structure daily to get to work, exercise, or spend time with their families. Rico echoes this sentiment. “The tunnel is used by a diverse and wide variety of people, for both work and play,” he says.

A safe, multi-modal commute for many Marin County residents is now a possibility, but the structure is unique in the other mode it will accept—that of light rail. The tunnel was specifically constructed in anticipation of the inclusion of theSonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART). While the walkers, bikers and other non-motorized users will share the same structure with SMART, the tunnel separates the user groups completely, a “tunnel within a tunnel,” of sorts.

While SMART is not yet ready to bring service through the corridor, the planning has been done and the capacity is in place. It is just one segment of Marin County’s multi-modal vision, but to users like Toms and hundreds of others, it makes all the difference.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/august/12/an-engineering-wonder-a-bike-commuter-s-dream-the-cal-park-hill-tunnel/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/august/12/an-engineering-wonder-a-bike-commuter-s-dream-the-cal-park-hill-tunnel/Tue, 12 August 2014 10:55:13 Goat Maintenance: The Kids Are Hungry in Red Mountain ParkKatie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/august/08/goat-maintenance-the-kids-are-hungry-in-red-mountain-park/Acres and acres of overgrown thickets of invasive plants: It is a land manager’s worst nightmare, but a goat’s ultimate dream. It’s time these two were introduced.

Ian Hazelhoff, natural resource specialist at Red Mountain Park, is overseeing a goat-browsing project to evaluate the effectiveness of goats on invasive species removal. Fifty goats are feasting on foliage at the park outside of Birmingham, Ala., this week.

What do these goats eat? According to Hazelhoff, everything, so he does recommend caution when one is considering making use of the enthusiastic eaters.

“In an area where you have both native and invasive plants, goats might not be an ideal management tool, because they’ll eat just about anything,” he explains. Hazelhoff adds, however, that in the 3.5 acres in Red Mountain Park where goat maintenance is currently taking place, the two main culprits, kudzu and Chinese privet, have outcompeted nearly all other plants—"requiring a heavy hand from a management perspective." For this particular plot of land, the goats fit the bill.

If the goats weren’t munching away, what would be the solution for removing these invasive species?

“Most of the time for this part of a restoration project, we have to use heavy machinery. We can clear roughly the same plot of land in about a day’s work, but it has some negative aspects,” explains Hazelhoff, adding that the machinery requires diesel fuel and leaves biomass such as sticks, leaves and seeds that can propagate and allow the invasive plants to return, despite all of their work. “With the goats, there is no problem of leftover biomass; they don’t leave anything in their wake. Goats eat all of that, and there is much less site preparation as the restoration moves forward,” says Hazelhoff.

Creating innovative solutions and sustainable management practices are important goals for the folks at Red Mountain Park, and the goat-browsing project satisfies both objectives. Hazelhoff cheerfully reports on the goats’ progress after a few days of their buffet: “I’m quite pleased with the volume and speed at which they’re clearing the plot!”

Red Mountain Park isn’t alone in their goat-grazing ways; land managers in Bozeman, Mont., have used goats at a local trailhead to deal with invasive plants. Weiser River Trail in Idaho has integrated goat grazing into their noxious plant management plan. But it’s not just trails and rural areas that are benefiting from goats’ appetites. Even Boston, Mass., is jumping on the goat bandwagon! And the city of Wilsonville, Ore., uses goats to control the English Ivy in a municipal park.

Invasive species removal is a major task for many trails and conservation areas around the county, and solutions like Red Mountain Park’s goat grazing pilot project will inform other land managers for future projects. But for now, graze on, goats, graze on!

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/august/08/goat-maintenance-the-kids-are-hungry-in-red-mountain-park/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/august/08/goat-maintenance-the-kids-are-hungry-in-red-mountain-park/Fri, 08 August 2014 11:06:36 Elly Blue: How Bicycling Can Save the EconomyKatie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/august/07/elly-blue-how-bicycling-can-save-the-economy/Q: You discuss equity and access for bicyclists quite a bit in your book. Why did you choose to dig into these topics?

[In her book, Blue writes, “Bicycling didn’t cause the gap in equity in this country; rather, it reflects the problems of broader society. But bicycling does represent an opportunity for change. Today, there is a myth that people of color do not like bicycling and do not want the sort of infrastructure changes that make cycling more appealing. Despite a long history of discrimination and unequal access, this has never been widely true, and today the barriers are coming down rapidly, thanks in part to the growing inclusivity of traditional bicycle advocates, but in much larger part to the efforts and leadership of a growing number of grassroots social and advocacy groups.”]

A: I’ve been writing about the economics of bicycling since 2010; I wasn’t the first to write about it, [however], I have helped make economics more of the standard frame for talking about bikes in our society. But I have some misgivings about how the economic frame works in reality.

Not only is equity really important, it’s the most important piece of all of this. We are trying to create a more equitable world, and I see bikes as a tool to help with that.

Q: Why is it important for you to make the economic case for bikes in today’s society?

A: Because the economy is terrible! In fact, the economic case has very little to do with bicycling. It has to do with our energy economy and how we have built our cities in the past century. Bikes are not the end all, be all, but they are a way that people are taking back public space, and it is a way to show how powerful we can be when we organize around bikes.

Q: In your book, you also discuss the myth—believed by some Americans—that those who ride bikes are freeloaders; they benefit from the infrastructure but don’t pay for it. How has this myth become so pervasive, and why is it important to dispel it?

A: It is an interesting historical question to see how the myth has become so pervasive. Rugged individualism has something to do with it, and the desire to own the status quo, to own what we have. But what we have is supremely broken. Our Highway Trust Fund is in rough shape. The gas tax has not been raised since 1993, our deficit is immense, people are driving less and yet we’re still building out a highway system that we won’t be able to afford.

It’s important to bust the myth [that bicyclists are freeloaders], because whenever you look at a budget that’s in trouble, you have to find the actual cause.

Bicycling is the only form of transportation that doesn’t just break even, but brings wealth into the community. Bike infrastructure was once seen as a boondoggle; now its absolutely necessary.

A: By looking at the math. The mayor of Indianapolis [Greg Ballard] put it really well; he said that when governments are spending money on roads and cars, it is an expense, and it’s an expense that requires more spending in the future. But when you spend money on bicycle infrastructure, you are making an investment.

The housing crisis at the personal level is a good analogy for the infrastructure crisis at the civic level. We are agreeing to make payments that are beyond our budgets, either for bigger houses on a personal level, or mega-highways on the civic level.

In fact, if we took the advice of any personal finance blogger when it came to transportation funding, then every city could be as bike friendly as Portland. When people look at the actual numbers, it really is common sense, and the case for investing in bike infrastructure is clear.

[This is the case for recreational trails as well. In her book, Blue uses Iowa as an example. “In the last two years, the state has spent less than $3 million a year on recreational bike trails and seen a $21 million-a-year increase in sales tax revenue along those trails...”]

Q: Why is it important to get more women on bikes, and what is the best way to do that?

A: It’s not only about getting women to ride bikes. There is a gender gap in bicycling, and it all comes back to the equity discussion. What factors influence that gap?

In terms of advocacy, has the focus been too narrow?

Listening is the first step to closing the gap. Advocacy can be inclusive when the concerns and needs of everyone, not just the traditional groups, are part of the larger narrative.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/august/07/elly-blue-how-bicycling-can-save-the-economy/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/august/07/elly-blue-how-bicycling-can-save-the-economy/Thu, 07 August 2014 11:13:39 By Rail and Trail: SunRail Service Opens a Whole New World on Florida's East CoastJake Lynchhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/august/05/by-rail-and-trail-sunrail-service-opens-a-whole-new-world-on-floridas-east-coast/2014 has already been a huge year for trails in Florida, with funding secured for the Coast-to-Coast Connector project, the All Aboard Florida rail-with-trail proposal building steam and locals beating back a number of political threats to active transportation.

While all this was happening, the maiden voyage in May of the SunRail commuter train from Orlando to communities north crept a little under the radar of most trail users, with the excellent news that SunRail trains would carry bikes for free.

Combine that with the fact that the 17 weekday SunRail trains each day connect one of Florida's biggest cities to one of its best trail systems, and you have a remarkable new opportunity and asset for recreation and tourism.

That trail system is the still-developing St. Johns River-to-Sea Loop, which, when complete, will connect 250 miles of trail, much of it rail-trail, along Florida's east coast between Jacksonville and Titusville.

And now, all these trails and more are accessible via a short and inexpensive train ride from Orlando. Way to go, SunRail.

Aware of the importance of keeping the public and political momentum going to complete the St. Johns River-to-Sea Loop, our friends at the East Coast Greenway this week launched the first-ever Florida Rail to Trail Tour (the loop is an important part of the East Coast Greenway connection between Maine and the Florida Keys).

Intrepid "tandemists" Mighk and Carol Wilson, Laura Hallam and Robert Seidler this week kicked off their trail-blazing journey around the loop with a SunRail ride from Orlando to the trail hub of DeBary. You can follow Mighk's blog about their adventures at commuteorlando.com/wordpress.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/august/05/by-rail-and-trail-sunrail-service-opens-a-whole-new-world-on-floridas-east-coast/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/august/05/by-rail-and-trail-sunrail-service-opens-a-whole-new-world-on-floridas-east-coast/Tue, 05 August 2014 11:12:12 In Minneapolis, You're Never Too Old to Learn to RideKatie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/august/05/in-minneapolis-youre-never-too-old-to-learn-to-ride/The Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program (NTPP) was created in 2005 under the federal transportation act, SAFETEA-LU. This program allocated $25 million each to four communities across the U.S. for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and programs. Between 2009 and 2013 alone, the program was responsible for averting 85.1 million vehicle miles traveled and 34,629 tons of CO2 emissions. Each week during the month of August, we will highlight one of these communities, focusing on the lives that were positively impacted by NTPP.

You’re a grown adult, but you’ve never learned how to ride a bike. Where do you even start? If you’re in Minneapolis, Minn., SPOKES Bike Walk Connect can help.

“The participation has been unbelievable,” says SPOKES director Sheldon Mains. “We had over 700 visits to the shop last year. And it wouldn’t have been possible without NTPP.”

According to Mains, NTPP funds amounted to 60 percent of SPOKES’ funding in the first three years of its existence. These funds helped support the hiring of a community organizer, Abdi Hirsi, who Mains credits with making incredible connections—critical to the program’s success—in Minneapolis’ East African Community (more than half of SPOKES’ participants come from this community.)

“It is the one-on-one communication and connections that he [established] that made all the difference for us when we were getting started. It’s that personal invitation that gets people there,” affirms Mains.

One of the many programs that SPOKES offers is Learn-to-Ride, a series of classes that aims to teach adults bicycle riding and safety skills. So far, 90 adults have participated in the program, and for some, this was an eye-opening lesson on what they were truly capable of.

“Before I was involved with SPOKES, I would see bicycle commuters or people just riding for fun, and I was really impressed by them,” says SPOKES student-turned-bike advocate Hayat Ahmed. “Once I got my own bike, I thought, ‘Oh! That could be me!’”

But it wasn’t just learning to ride that brought Ahmed confidence, it was also learning the mechanics of a bike. “Now, if I’m out on a ride, I know what to do when something goes wrong. It is very powerful to know how to fix something,” Ahmed states.

Creating a safe community space is a priority of the program, and participants value the inclusiveness of SPOKES. “It had always been a goal of mine to ride a bike,” recounts Maria Padilla, who joined the Learn-to-Ride class on a friend’s recommendation. “I was kind of embarrassed when I signed up for the Learn-to-Ride class, because I was an adult, but everyone else in the program was an adult too, so that made me feel much more comfortable,” she said.

Mains says that in an effort to make the community center more welcoming to program participants, the walls of the center were painted with incredibly bright colors. “We would propose a shade of paint, but [people kept saying] ‘No, brighter! No, brighter!’ We now have a very bright center, and everyone loves it,” he adds.

It is the welcoming community and safe space that inspires Padilla. “There is always someone there to help you, and anyone is welcome at SPOKES. The staff is so involved and respectful, and you feel secure,” she says.

The community program is also changing perceptions about cycling. For some participants, riding in traditional and religious dress is often a perceived barrier, but SPOKES creates a community where riding a bike is a normal activity, regardless of your culture, religion or ethnicity.

“Like me, most Muslim women cover their hair and dress modestly by covering our body except for our face and hands. So we stand out when riding a bike because of what we’re wearing; the community is learning to get used to seeing women on bikes who are dressed similar to me, but it’s just not that common yet,” explains Ahmed.

She continues, “Those of us who started biking through SPOKES are starting a new trend. The more you see it, the more normal it becomes! If I can show that I can wear what I wear and ride a bike, it normalizes it for others.”

SPOKES’ focus is bicycles, but its reach into the community is much deeper than may appear on the surface. For participants like Maria Padilla, it has brought a new confidence and freedom into their lives.

Padilla affirms, “This program has helped me, has guided me, and has given me confidence in how to learn.”

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/august/05/in-minneapolis-youre-never-too-old-to-learn-to-ride/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/august/05/in-minneapolis-youre-never-too-old-to-learn-to-ride/Tue, 05 August 2014 11:11:52 Congress Passes Short-Term Fix for Transportation Funding; So What Will Happen to Trails, Walking and Biking?Patrick Wojahnhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/august/04/congress-passes-short-term-fix-for-transportation-funding-so-what-will-happen-to-trails-walking-and-biking/On July 31, the Senate agreed to pass H.R. 5021. This bill, which passed in the U.S. House of Representatives the week before, will temporarily shore up the Highway Trust Fund and extend the current MAP-21 transportation funding bill, originally to fund transportation through Sept. 30, 2014, until May 2015.

The Highway Trust Fund has steadily been depleting, in part because the federal gas tax of 18.4 cents per gallon has not been changed since 1993—the last year "Cheers" and "The Wonder Years" were aired on television—and thus has not kept pace with inflation or growing infrastructure needs. The trust fund was expected to start running a shortfall on funds in the beginning of August, so Congress acted in the nick of time, just before going away for August recess.

Adequate funding for transportation is vital to maintaining a strong economy and ensuring that workers can access jobs and schools. A balanced transportation system—not only roads and bridges, but also railways, public transit and places like trails for walking and biking—is necessary to provide the transportation options that Americans are looking for.

Congress has decided to pay for the temporary “fix” it passed using a smattering of different revenue sources, some only short term. As a result, Congress kicked the question of finding a permanent solution to the funding shortfall down the road to May 2015.

What’s more, there’s no guarantee that it will be resolved in May, either; Congress may then pass another short-term “fix” to avoid dealing with difficult political decisions.

The good news is that, at least for now, funding for trails, walking and biking, through programs like the Transportation Alternatives Program and the Recreational Trails Program, will continue at current levels. RTC and our partners have been working hard to fend off a number of attacks against these programs in the past few months, and so far, none have succeeded.

The bad news is that funding for trails, walking and biking will continue at current levels. Americans across the country are increasingly asking for a new vision of transportation. For some, like millennials burdened with expensive college debt or the working poor, a car is another expense they cannot afford but must still use to get to work, as they have no other options. For others, like some seniors and people with disabilities who are unable to drive a car, safe places to walk or bike provide a lifeline to community and friends, rather than leaving them isolated at home.

People of all ages and from all economic backgrounds want vibrant communities where they can choose to walk or bike to do their shopping, visit friends and family, and go to work.

For example, in Indianapolis, trails are connecting neighborhoods with downtown arts, cultural, sports and entertainment centers, creating a “culture of connectivity,” according to the mayor, “knitting neighborhoods and communities together, one by one.”

At RTC, we will continue to advocate in Congress for more investment in trails, walking and biking as part of a smart, balanced transportation system with a variety of real options for Americans.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/august/04/congress-passes-short-term-fix-for-transportation-funding-so-what-will-happen-to-trails-walking-and-biking/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/august/04/congress-passes-short-term-fix-for-transportation-funding-so-what-will-happen-to-trails-walking-and-biking/Mon, 04 August 2014 11:16:06 Opportunity Knocks in Missouri: RTC Steps In to Save 145-Mile Connection to Katy TrailKeith Laughlinhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/august/04/opportunity-knocks-in-missouri-rtc-steps-in-to-save-145-mile-connection-to-katy-trail/On July 28, the chance to save a 145-mile segment of inactive rail corridor dropped out of the sky. The opportunity to preserve an intact corridor of this length was more common 20 years ago, but rarely happens today.

The corridor in question-which hasn't seen train traffic in about 30 years-is a segment of the old Rock Island Line that run from Windsor to Beaufort, Mo. What makes this doubly exciting is that this corridor intersects the 237-mile Katy Trail in Windsor. With the successful preservation of this corridor, it would not be hard to imagine a world-class trail system of more than 400 miles that would span the entire state of Missouri, connecting St. Louis and Kansas City.

This corridor has long been on our radar. For almost two years, RTC staffer Eric Oberg has been providing technical assistance to local activists who are intent upon turning this unused rail line into a trail. While we were aware that Ameren, the electric utility company that owns the corridor, was soliciting bids for its purchase, we thought a local nonprofit organization would submit the bid.

On Monday afternoon, we found out that wasn't going to happen. If we didn't quickly step in to submit an offer to purchase, the corridor would likely be lost for both trail development and the possible future reactivation of the line for rail service. Long story short-we kicked into high gear and submitted a bid just before the deadline on Thursday.

I will admit some trepidation when I signed an eight-figure offer to purchase a piece of real estate, particularly when such an action wasn't even remotely contemplated when I arrived at work on Monday morning. (It is important to note that RTC is not shouldering the financial burden of the purchase alone; our pockets aren't that deep. Rather, the deal is structured so that RTC will be working with two private sector partners to secure the purchase the corridor.)

It's impossible to know if our bid will be accepted. But if all goes as planned, a multi-step transaction will unfold over several months. The critical step in that process will be ensuring that the corridor has been "railbanked" to preserve it intact as a transportation asset for the American people. With that step completed, the sale would finalize, and at the moment that we own the property we would donate it to Missouri State Parks for development as a trail. And it could be spectacular!

I am proud of the role that RTC has played in this effort, particularly Andrea Ferster, our general counsel, who is among a handful of national experts on the arcane details of railroad real estate law.

"The trail system provides a way to see the county in an up close and personal way ... I love living here because of it. It makes it such a better place to live."

True to its name, within minutes, travelers on the MKT Nature and Fitness Trail are spirited away from lively downtown Columbia, Mo., and taken into the forest. Although the city is so close at hand, it's forgotten in the company of wild turkeys, deer and a flash of orange as a fox darts across the path. The trail—just a tad shy of nine miles—is serene with the soft crunch of feet on crushed stone, the rustle of leaves overhead and the gentle gurgle of its many creek crossings.

"I love the tree canopy," says Janet Godon, outreach coordinator for the Columbia Parks and Recreation Department, who rides the MKT Trail every day to work. "It could be 100 degrees out, but you get on the trail and you don't feel it. It's a backyard gem for the city."

Mike Griggs, director for the Parks and Recreation Department, uses the trail often, too. "When I commute in my car, I get stuck in traffic and I feel frazzled by the time I get to work. When I ride a bike to work, I've done something positive to start the day. I feel much better physically and emotionally when I use the trail."

Columbia—affectionately called CoMo by locals—is a college town, home to the University of Missouri, the largest university in the state (famed alumni include Brad Pitt and Sheryl Crow). Before the trail's dive into nature, it hugs the west end of the campus, and when the fall semester begins, this part of the trail will be transformed with all the vibrancy and activity of its youthful neighbors.

MU's campus is itself a beauty and worth a side trip; its entire grounds are a designated botanical garden. And, only blocks from the trail, the school's oldest section—the Francis Quadrangle, or more commonly just "The Quad"—is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its cluster of dusky red brick buildings and an unusual set of towering, roofless columns (the remains of a burnt down building) date back to the late 1800s.

In fact, the rail line on which the MKT Trail was built—a spur of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas (MKT) Railroad—was created in part to service students and faculty at MU, a 175-year-old institution and the first public university west of the Mississippi River.

A nod to this railroad history is anticipated to be ready next spring. Jay Dix Station, a county-owned but city-managed park that the MKT Trail runs through, is currently under renovation. Plans for the 30-acre site include a train-themed playground and shelter, and a refurbished caboose.

But the trail's southern end is its pièce de résistance. Here, it directly ties into the Katy Trail State Park, one of the longest rail-trails in the country at 238 miles, which nearly traverses the state from border to border. People doing the long haul can conveniently come into town for refreshments or to spend the night. The point where the two trails meet is Hindman Junction, named in honor of a key trail advocate and five-time mayor of Columbia, Darwin Hindman.

"The MKT Trail's connection to the Katy Trail draws people into Columbia that otherwise wouldn't have seen it," says Janet Thompson, northern (District II) commissioner for Boone County. "It's a lovely segue into our community and provides a really great impression of the city. It's not just an exit ramp."

Incredibly, this trail network could potentially get even better; late last month came the surprising news that a 145-mile segment of inactive rail corridor, which crosses the Katy Trail in Windsor, was going up for bid. Seeing the potential for conversion to a rail-trail, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) put in an offer to purchase the corridor, but won't know for a few weeks yet if it will be accepted.

In Columbia itself, trails are thriving thanks in part to funding the city received through the federal Nonmotorized Transportation Pilot Program (NTPP). Launched in 2005, the federal government gave four communities across the country, including Columbia, dedicated funding to invest in walking and biking infrastructure and to measure any resulting changes in transportation behaviors. RTC is one of three managing partners and was involved in the program's design and inception.

Photo of a portion of the trail that leads into downtown Columbia courtesy Columbia Parks and Recreation Department

"We received a $22 million federal grant, of which $6 million was dedicated for trails," says Griggs. "Trails are still being built with the [NTPP] funding. Some of the money is being used to build spokes off of the MKT Trail. It's allowing us to build those connections to where people eat, play, work and are entertained."

Locally, the federal program was managed by GetAbout Columbia, and the funding generated more than 125 miles of new on-road bike lanes, multi-use trails, sidewalks and bicycle boulevards in the city, as well as hundreds of new bicycle parking spots.

Griggs, who has lived in Columbia all his life, is excited by the new developments. "We're working on a lot more things to take us to the next level," he says. "If you're going to downtown or to the University of Missouri, we have trails that will get you there. Connecting those trails to more shopping centers and neighborhoods—that's our next step."

The granddaddy of these new paths, the MKT Trail, has been around since 1982. "Columbia is building on investments made previously," says Marianne Fowler, RTC's senior strategist for policy advocacy, referring to this longtime showpiece of the community. "Rail-trails have truly forged the movement for active transportation."

Like a piece of a puzzle, the MKT Trail is fitting into a planned 30-mile trail loop around the city. "The loop is our long-range plan; we're slowly adding segments to it," says Griggs. "A lot of land is already set aside for it; we just have to find the money to develop it. We'll probably be able to get it done in the next 10 or 15 years."

Much of the loop, like the portion along the MKT Trail, is already completed. "We think of it as a wheel and it has spokes that come in to central Columbia," says Godon. "The southern and the northern portions of the loop are built, so we're filling in the east and west sides."

In 2013, the Show Me State was named "Best Trails State" by the nonprofit American Trails, and with all these exciting trail projects newly completed or underway, it's certainly showing the country that it has earned it.

"The trail system provides a way to see the county in an up close and personal way," says Thompson, who has walked both the MKT Trail and the Katy Trail with her friends. "I love living here because of it. It makes it such a better place to live."

Do you enjoy and want to support our Trail of the Month feature? Any extra contribution you're able to make helps us stay at the forefront of covering trails and trail projects around the country. Thank you for reading and supporting this feature!

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/august/01/missouris-mkt-nature-and-fitness-trail/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/august/01/missouris-mkt-nature-and-fitness-trail/Fri, 01 August 2014 10:13:36 Jay Walljasper: Why Trails Are America's New Town SquaresJay Walljasperhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/july/29/jay-walljasper-why-trails-are-americas-new-town-squares/Special thank you to guest contributor Jay Walljasper, editor of On the Commons, for this great post on how trails are becoming the new town squares for people around the country. In today’s uber-busy society, many of us are seeking out the urban commons, a place to connect with our neighbors, understand our surroundings and gain a sense of place. And with a desire to keep our bodies active and our minds engaged, trails offer the best of all worlds.

Americans are people on the go! The urge to move has been part of our national character since the beginning of the Republic and greatly influences how we spend our leisure time.

In the 19th century, Sunday drives in carriages (and later cars) became a favorite pastime. Urban planners responded by laying out lovely green ribbons of parkways—which remain beloved places to this day in many communities.

But for harried 21st Century commuters, who spend long hours in cars or buses each week, driving seems too reminiscent of work. On evenings and weekends, they want to take off on bikes, skates, longboards or their own two feet. That’s why communities are now busy creating new trails and greenways across America and throughout the world.

Trails are becoming the new town squares where people bump into their neighbors, sparking conversations and friendships. When speaking to audiences around the country, I often begin by asking people to name a favorite commons in their lives. More often than not, one of the first few mentioned is a local rail-trail or parkway.

Let me map out some of my favorite pastimes here in Minneapolis. I bike a dozen blocks south from my house to Minnehaha Creek Trail, a green oasis lining a rushing stream that was protected from development in the 1880s. I follow its winding, wooded path through city neighborhoods to Minnehaha Falls, highlighted in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem “Hiawatha.” Watching the water tumble over a 50-foot wall of rock endlessly fascinates and relaxes me. Then I amble over to Sea Salt, a café in an historic park building that serves topnotch fried fish, best enjoyed on the outdoor patio. Sipping a beer while waiting for my fried clams to arrive, I plot the rest of my journey.

From here, one trail leads along the Mississippi River to Fort Snelling, the first European settlement in Minnesota, built at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers. Or, I could follow a trail north along the river gorge and past St. Anthony Falls to downtown Minneapolis. Or south around the bend and through the woods to downtown St. Paul. Or I could turn back the way I came to explore Minneapolis’ fabled chain of lakes, six of which lie next to the trail in rapid succession.

Any route I choose will lead to more trails stretching miles in all directions throughout the region.

The Minneapolis-St. Paul region is blessed with a superb network of trails—made possible by visionaries of the 19th century who fought to ensure public access to local lakeshores, riverbanks and creeksides for public use, and they have been impressively expanded in recent years thanks to the work of a new generation of visionaries.

Many communities large and small across the U.S. are now installing impressive trail systems and linear parks. Indianapolis’ newCultural Trail, for instance, strikes a bold note by fashioning a new passageway separated from street traffic right through the heart of a built-up city. Detroit sports the impressive Dequindre Cut rail-trail, which connects the lively Riverwalk to the bustling Eastern Market. (Who says no one walks or bikes in the Motor City?) Even densely packed Manhattan is thrilled about the High Line, an elevated freight train track now reclaimed as parkland. With help from theTrust for Public Land, Chicago is at work on the 606, a 2.7-mile linear park and trail on an elevated freight line. Many suburbs now boast trails that don’t simply loop around a pond, but carry people to schools, libraries, farmers’ markets, restaurants or shopping districts.

Americans are not content to simply pedal or stroll along a trail; they want places to go and things to do.

On a recent Sunday, I headed to the Midtown Greenway, a rail-trail a dozen blocks north of my house, and followed it more than 20 miles west through the suburbs to Carver Regional Park—a glorious expanse of woods and prairie dotted by lakes and more bike trails. I stopped for lunch at a deli in Victoria, a small town right on the trail. Eating some German sausage at a sidewalk table, I remembered how I felt moving to Minneapolis from Iowa many years ago. I immediately took to big city life—except for one thing. I dearly missed being able to bike all the way out into the countryside. The roads were too inhospitable in Minneapolis and the surrounding suburbs.

But now, thanks to citizen advocates and park officials here who have built a stellar trail system throughout the metropolitan area, biking out to the country is now available to anyone in moderately good shape with a few hours to spare.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/july/29/jay-walljasper-why-trails-are-americas-new-town-squares/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/july/29/jay-walljasper-why-trails-are-americas-new-town-squares/Tue, 29 July 2014 11:21:59 Don't Take the Road Toward Health This Summer. Take the Trail!Elissa Southwardhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/july/23/dont-take-the-road-toward-health-this-summer-take-the-trail/“In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” ~ John Muir

Walking is a great (and free!) way to get outdoors and get some exercise!

Walking is associated with reductions in risk of dementia, type 2 diabetes, obesity, cancer (breast and colon in particular) and cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, being outdoorsand around greenery can help with concentration and stress recovery, and sunlight on the skin leads to vitamin D production, which helps fight off cancer, osteoporosis and heart attacks (scientists have even developed a calculator to help determine how much sunlight your body needs, and don’t forget that sunscreen!).

In cities across the U.S., public leaders are emerging as real champions for the walking movement. For example, Nashville, Tenn., has invested more than $130 million in public infrastructure to support healthy, active lifestyles, including the building of new sidewalks and bikeways, as well as parks and multi-modal streets. And, Mayor Karl Dean recognizes that building infrastructure isn’t enough; residents need to be educated and encouraged to get outside and walk.

Currently, nearly 24.7 percent of Nashville’s population of adults and 29 percent of children are obese, and the city also grapples with higher than average pollution levels. To help address these issues, Mayor Dean has launched a citywide campaign called NashVitality, which focuses on making both the city and its residents healthy and active.

The NashVitality website features a number of programs and resources to foster community engagement and healthy, active living. This year, Mayor Dean has also brought back the highly-popular Walk 100 Miles challenge for a third time, inviting all Nashvillians to join him in walking 100 miles during the summer of 2014. To meet the 100-mile goal, you can walk on your own, walk with a group or walk with the Mayor himself on weekly “Walk with the Mayor” group walks. We applaud Mayor Dean and Nashville’s commitment to walking and health!

So let’s all take a page out of Nashville’s book, or these other great cities. No matter where you live in America, why not complete your own 100-mile challenge this summer on your local trail? Summer is only nearing its halfway point, so there’s still time!

You’ll walk your way toward a healthier life, and have tons of fun.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/july/23/dont-take-the-road-toward-health-this-summer-take-the-trail/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/july/23/dont-take-the-road-toward-health-this-summer-take-the-trail/Wed, 23 July 2014 11:54:43 Miami the Latest to Say: All Aboard Florida Must Include TrailKen Bryanhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/july/miami-the-latest-to-say-all-aboard-florida-must-include-trail/On Thursday, the commissioners of the City of Miami passed a resolution supporting a biking and walking trail component to the All Aboard Florida high-speed rail line plan.

Miami now joins a groundswell of communities standing up and saying loudly that the rail project has the potential to transform Florida's transportation system for the better—but only if it includes a parallel rail-with-trail pathway for biking and walking.

In recent months, the Miami Downtown Development Authority, Village of El Portal and Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization's Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee have all taken formal steps to secure the biking and walking plans in place for their communities, and to make sure All Aboard Florida maximizes its potential by including a rail-with-trail. Additional resolutions from other local governments are expected to be passed soon.

"Trails and active-transportation facilities provide a choice of transportation modes while reducing demand and maintenance on the state's highways and local road systems," the City of Miami resolution reads. We agree.

Pathways alongside active rail lines have been proven to not only give people mobility options but also to improve the capacity and functioning of the rail service itself. A rail-with-trail incorporated into All Aboard Florida will cut down on traffic by getting people to and from stations without having to drive, boost property values in nearby communities and offset a number of environmental and social impacts.

Rails-with-trails are safer than riding next to a roadway and are proven community improvements. These days, modern and efficient rail transit projects are being built intentionally with bike and pedestrian access in mind, and rails-with-trails of this kind are becoming popular solutions to reducing congestion and improving safety for people moving across and along the corridor.

Why this issue is especially pressing for a number of communities is that they've already made plans for biking and walking trails along the All Aboard Florida corridor.

If All Aboard Florida doesn't allow for an adjacent rail-with-trail, it will be trampling over the local ambitions these places have been working toward for a number of years.

The high-speed rail plan must recognize the importance of a balance of modes. Complementing the train service with an active-transportation pathway is an efficient and effective use of the corridor, and will serve a massive cross section of the community.

Over the coming months, RTC is making sure the people of southeast Florida have a voice in this important discussion. The Florida Campaign is sending messages of encouragement to decision makers to include a rail-with-trail in the plan. Add your name to the list to make sure you have your say in decisions that could change the landscape of Florida for generations to come.

"Art is in the eyes of the bicyclists as they pass a brightly painted mural taking shape inside the Burke-Gilman Trail tunnel in Bothell, WA.

I pedaled up there on Tuesday and saw a dozen volunteers enjoying their task of filling in the lines drawn by local artist Kristen Ramirez. It looks like they’re just about done with the project that started in early July."

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/july/18/tunnel-vision-new-mural-on-the-burke-gilman-trail-gives-tunnel-a-facelift/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/july/18/tunnel-vision-new-mural-on-the-burke-gilman-trail-gives-tunnel-a-facelift/Fri, 18 July 2014 12:21:50 The Florida Campaign Rolls On – Are You Aboard?Ken Bryanhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/july/15/the-florida-campaign-rolls-on-are-you-aboard/Our promise to Florida was to take on the big battles and win.

For any Floridian who loves trails, biking and walking, 2014 is a year of massive significance.

Over the next nine months, a small handful of key votes, projects and funding battles will shape the landscape of Florida for decades to come. So RTC is making sure that everyone who uses and loves trails in the Sunshine State is heard during these vital decisions.

This effort is called The Florida Campaign. The invitation to all Floridians is to help push the needle toward support for trails, biking and walking in your state.

So far, The Florida Campaign is 2 for 2.

In May, more than 1,000 Florida Campaign supporters voiced their passionate opposition to Sen. Marco Rubio’s proposal to gut funding for trails. As it stands today, Rubio has not pursued the amendment any further.

Our next Florida Campaign call generated massive backing of the 2014/2015 Florida state budget, which contained important funding sources for trail building in Florida, including the first phase of work on the Coast-to-Coast Connector.

Fully aware of the booming support for biking and walking projects among his constituents, Gov. Rick Scott signed the budget into law and left the trail funding pieces intact.

Next up: We’re building support for a rail-with-trail component for the All Aboard Florida high-speed rail project. And we’ll be keeping all our Florida Campaigners up to date on the schedule of All Aboard Florida public meetings, so you can advocate for trails directly to your local decision makers.

If you use and appreciate trails in Florida, the only way to be a part of this grassroots initiative to build the Florida you want to see is get involved in The Florida Campaign.

Will Florida continue with the plans and policies that have made it the most dangerous state for walking and biking for much of the past decade? Or will it support the innovative trail projects that boost Florida’s tourism base and attract new businesses and residents?

You can help make that decision. Add your name to the groundswell of support for biking and walking in your state.

In 20 years time, when your children and grandchildren enjoy a healthy, safe and happy Florida, you can say you helped make it happen.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/july/15/the-florida-campaign-rolls-on-are-you-aboard/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/july/15/the-florida-campaign-rolls-on-are-you-aboard/Tue, 15 July 2014 14:54:51 What Happens When a Member of Congress Attacks Trail Funding?Patrick Wojahnhttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/july/14/what-happens-when-a-member-of-congress-attacks-trail-funding/Though it may not have made news headlines in your community, last Friday a significant battle was won in our never-ending defense of America's trails.

Senator Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, had proposed an amendment to the Preserving America's Transit and Highways Act to eliminate funding for the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), by far the largest dedicated source of funding for trails and biking and walking infrastructure.

The simple fact is that without TAP, America would not have many of the trails and pathways we use today, and sometimes take for granted.

And so Rails-to-Trails Conservancy realized the great threat that Toomey's amendment presented. We rallied our friends and partners around the country, and urged our individual supporters, people like you, to pressure Sen. Toomey to withdraw the amendment.

What a response you gave. Our supporters sent more than 7,000 messages to Toomey and his peers in Congress voicing their enthusiastic support of TAP and urging elected officials to support programs that help build trails and active transportation facilities.

In Pennsylvania, we quickly gathered a broad coalition of 85 groups representing trails, health, business, tourism and citizen groups to sign a letter to Sen. Toomey, and hand-delivered the letter to the Senator and all Pennsylvanian Congressional representatives, in person, at their offices.

As they continued to apply pressure on Capitol Hill, late on Friday afternoon our policy and government relations staff received confirmation that Sen. Toomey had withdrawn the amendment.

This victory is evidence of two things. The first is the great support in local communities for federal programs to support trails, biking and walking. Where the rubber meets the road, programs like TAP have real and positive impacts in neighborhoods and main streets nationwide. It gets projects built, and it changes lives.

Secondly, it demonstrates the vital importance of RTC's work defending funding for trails. The behind-the-scenes work we do, utilizing relationships with trail building partners across the country, comes into play when we need to exert pressure on key decision makers to protect trails and active transportation.

As a supporter of RTC, it is important that you see the results of your contribution, and enjoy the fruits of our combined labors! This victory - defeating Sen. Toomey's amendment - is a win for the millions of Americans like you who know that trails, biking and walking are key elements of America's future.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/july/14/what-happens-when-a-member-of-congress-attacks-trail-funding/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/july/14/what-happens-when-a-member-of-congress-attacks-trail-funding/Mon, 14 July 2014 13:23:49 Trail Towns Roll Out the Red Carpet: "Impressions" of a Greenway SojournerKatie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/july/10/trail-towns-roll-out-the-red-carpet-impressions-of-a-greenway-sojourner/My absolute favorite part of RTC’s 2014 Greenway Sojourn (June 22-27) was talking to many of my fellow 300 riders about their experiences as we made our way from just outside Wierton, W.V., to Cumberland, Md. Every evening, I would strike up a conversation with someone about the day’s ride; some exhausted after, say, their first 50-mile day, others eager to share their list of wildlife sightings, and all excited for what would come next.

One topic that everyone wanted to talk about was the communities through which we passed. We let our hard-earned dinners settle in our bellies, and the stories of trail-town interactions carried the conversation.

Confluence, Pa., where we spent our layover day (Day 4), truly rolled out the red carpet for us. Confluence is one of nine Trail Towns along the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP), which are dedicated to maximizing the economic potential of the trail for their communities.

We were greeted on the edge of town by Scout and Addie, two of Confluence’s local young ladies, who handed out information about the town and “Tourism Tokens” to redeem at the local bike shop, Confluence Cyclery. Balloons tied to “Welcome, Sojourn!” signs led riders from the trail to the town square and pavilion where Sherman’s Old Fashion Ice Cream Parlor was passing out free ice cream.

Some riders opted for a break from sleeping in a tent each night and capitalized on the cozy bed and breakfasts of Confluence. Dinner was catered by a local restaurant on the first night and the local fire department on the second. This offered us the opportunity to taste the local fare and get to know our hosts, and infused a substantial chunk of change into the community! On the night before our departure, I followed the laughter and music over to the Lucky Dog Cafe and found the entire place packed with sojourn riders in vacation mode, more than willing to spend some cash on a beverage or two with new friends.

It was clear that the whole town had mobilized for the event, and the effort did not go unnoticed. Sandy Younkin, president of the Confluence Tourism Association, explained that Confluence is serious about trail tourism, stating, “This whole town makes an effort to make this a welcoming place. We welcome [the sojourn riders] back at anytime!”

Younkin, owner of the bed and breakfast and catering company, Confluence House, explained that more than 70 percent of her business comes from the trail. In fact, six folks who rode last year’s sojourn came back two weeks before this year’s sojourn on their own private trip. They had such a great time on the GAP and in the towns along its route that they returned—and brought their friends.

“We’re trying to make this a trail that you want to come back to!” Younkin said.

The trail town model fits many of these small communities quite well, and we have heard from business owners in the past about how important the trail is to their success.Trails mean business, and this couldn’t be more true in Confluence.

Other towns along the 191-mile sojourn route held our hearts in their own ways; I heard from my fellow riders about the welcoming interactions in the bike shop in Connellsville, the pub in West Newton, the coffee shop in Frostburg. A young girl showed me a pair of earrings that her mom bought her in Ohiopyle, I shared laughs over ice cream (my favorite treat on a bike trip) with a ride volunteer in Rockwood, and I heard tales of great beer and dancing in Myersdale. And the list goes on.

The trail is a central part of these communities—geographically in some cases, but more importantly, in terms of their economic value to the towns themselves. From earrings to ice cream to bike parts, the towns along the trail are providing what visitors need, and small town charm keeps visitors coming back to these charismatic communities, year after year.

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/july/10/trail-towns-roll-out-the-red-carpet-impressions-of-a-greenway-sojourner/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/july/10/trail-towns-roll-out-the-red-carpet-impressions-of-a-greenway-sojourner/Thu, 10 July 2014 13:28:45 Tales from the Trail: RTC's 2014 Greenway SojournKatie Harrishttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/july/02/tales-from-the-trail-rtcs-2014-greenway-sojourn/Here's a great wrap-up of the 12th Annual Greenway Sojourn by RTC's Katie Harris! Katie talks about the impact of the trip on her, her fellow riders and the communities through which they had the pleasure of passing through during their six days together.

This year marked RTC’s 12th annual Greenway Sojourn, which brought 300 riders on a 191-mile, six day trip on three renowned rail-trails: the Panhandle Trail, the Montour Trail and the Great Allegheny Passage. Here’s what happened!

The sojourn began on the Panhandle Trail, right outside of Wierton, W.V. Eager to hit the trail after the bus trip from Cumberland, we enjoyed the 27 miles to Cecil Township, Pa., connecting to the Montour Trail about 20 miles into the ride. Day Two was a much bigger feat, with 51 miles to tackle before we arrived at Cedar Creek Park, but the Montour Trail kept all the riders captivated.

We rolled into Glassport, Pa., around lunchtime, and the folks at Max and Odi’s were ready for us! The Montour Trail’s eastern terminus is right outside of Glassport, and the connection through town to join the Great Allegheny Passage is on road. This was an opportunity for sojourn participants to give feedback to the town through a bikeability survey conducted by RTC. Through this survey, riders will help shape the way Glassport serves cyclists visiting their community.

The remainder of our ride was on the famous Great Allegheny Passage (GAP), the longest rail-trail east of the Mississippi and a member of RTC’s Rail-Trail Hall of Fame. Following the Youghiogheny River, commonly referred to as the “Yough,” and then the Casselman River a few days later, was a highlight for me. From the screeches of glee from whitewater rafters on the lower Youghiogheny to the serene fisherman along the banks near Confluence, it was evident that the people in this part of Pennsylvania were enjoying their time outdoors.

The rail-trails in the region fit into that picture perfectly. I was inspired to see smiles plastered on the faces of our riders, but I was equally excited about the grins of locals out enjoying the trail by foot or on bike. These trail systems are used by tourists and attract cyclists from around the country, but the trails here are also cherished by the local communities as well—as an incredible asset.

The Greenway Sojourn is a far cry from the traditional, supported ride. The vast majority of riding during the sojourn is on trails, away from traffic and within corridors of green space. Furthermore, the sojourn offers opportunities to gain insight on the trail building process. This year, sojourn riders were able to be a direct part of two projects: a groundbreaking for a section of the Montour Trail (with gold shovels and all!) and the Pinkerton Tunnel project, presented to the group during an evening session by Linda McKenna Boxx, president emeritus of the Alleghany Trail Alliance. The Pinkerton Tunnel is in the fundraising stages, and riders learned about the history and future plans for the structure during Boxx’s presentation on the fourth night of the trip.

The following day, riders approached the barricaded tunnel and envisioned how the ride would be different after the project is completed. “You peer through the tunnel; it is 800-feet long but you have to ride one and a half miles around!” said, Boxx, adding that the winters are harsh in that region of Pennsylvania, and that is why the tunnel deteriorated. “RTC stimulated our thinking about how to get this done,” she said.

And it’s not just visitors that want to see this project complete. Boxx recounts a story about a local donor’s desire to see the tunnel in working order. “I had a 90-year old gentleman who made a donation, and he saw me on the street and said, ‘When is that tunnel going to be opened? I’d like to see it during my lifetime.’” They are working toward their $100,000 goal, and with contributions from the Confluence Tourism Association, RTC, and individual sojourn riders, they are on their way.

Day Four signaled a break in the biking action as sojourn participants enjoyed a day off from riding and used the free time to go whitewater rafting, stroll around the local town and visit the architectural wonders of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob. The day concluded with a concert in the pavilion in the quaint town of Confluence, our home for two nights. The only thing that broke the attention of the audience was the occasional train that rumbled past. Between strums on their guitars, the musicians informed us: “We’re used to it by now; we just have to figure out how to work the train into the song!”

The town rolled out the red carpet for the sojourn and stole the hearts of a few of the riders. Stay tuned for more details about Confluence and other towns along our route.

It was back on the bikes on Day Five for a shady and scenic 32-mile ride to Meyersdale. A few riders took a long lunch in Rockwood—some to watch a World Cup soccer match, others to visit the restored Opera House. As was the case in most of the towns we rode through, I arrived with a list of things I wanted to see and left with an even longer list of reasons to return.

Our departure from Meyersdale on Day Six was bittersweet. Between the lasagna dinner and the pancake breakfast, local organizations fed us well and made us want to linger. But the trail was calling, and the perfect weather and the promise of a long downhill from the Eastern Continental Divide to Cumberland got me on my bike. I savored those last miles, cruising along the GAP in the warmth of a June afternoon. We were expecting to see the train that runs from Cumberland to Frostburg, and when we heard it approaching, we returned the waves of the train passengers with equal enthusiasm, all of us thrilled to see the rail-with-trail in action.

It was a journey of 191 miles over six days. Some of the riders were seasoned sojourn veterans, others were new to the sojourn, and others were taking part in their first multi-day ride. One thing we all had in common, however, was a passion for being out on the trail.

This ride requires tremendous effort from local communities and volunteers, and a big thanks goes out to all that contributed to this year’s event. The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is a major partner, and RTC thanks them for their support. Tom Sexton, RTC's northeast regional director, has been orchestrating this event since the beginning and deserves a round of applause for the hard work he has put in year after year. It is the enthusiasm of the event organizers, participants and community contributors that make the sojourn a success. We hope you’ll join us next year!

"It's been one of the most positive things to happen for the community. We get so many users on it, and people see the positive impact it has. Everything we hear about the expansion of the trail system has been positive."

A dusky red barn sits atop a grassy slope as wispy white clouds stir in the sky above; a placid cow strolls by and a creek runs playfully beneath a small wooden bridge. This scene, seemingly from some sweet dream, is the everyday reality on the Macomb Orchard Trail. About 30 miles north of Detroit, Mich., the rail-trail is pure rural Americana, a paved ribbon winding through rolling farm fields, vivid green tree canopies and friendly Midwestern towns.

Photo of the trail's wooden bridge in background, taken in Armada courtesy Dan Pieniak

"People are discovering their county like they never have before," says Don Brown, a Macomb County commissioner whose district includes the communities along the trail. "From the trail, you get a different perspective of the county than you would from a car. You see farms and open space and wooded areas. The trail passes through all of that. You really see where you're living."

Michigan is one of the top apple-producing states in the nation, and the trail's name and distinctive features—such as picnic pavilions topped with cheerful barn-like roofs—are nods to the rich agricultural heritage of Macomb County, known for its apples and peaches. Many of the farms here have been family-owned for generations. With more than 2,300 miles of rail-trail and counting, the state is also leading the country in completed rail-trail mileage. On the Macomb Orchard Trail—an unmitigated success since its completion in 2011—one feels not only the pull of its idyllic past, but also the possibilities of a bright future.

Photo of trail users under iconic trail sign courtesy Macomb County Planning and Economic Development Department

At every level of government, the Michigan citizenry is rallying around its trail system with gusto. In 2012, Governor Rick Snyder gave the effort a major kick forward when he unveiled a plan for a connected trail network stretching more than 600 miles from Detroit through the Upper Peninsula to the Wisconsin border. The plan's ambition astonished even the most enthusiastic trail advocates.

"It's profound, the backing we get for these trail projects from the governor's office on down," says Brad Bates, deputy supervisor for Shelby Township, one of the communities that the Macomb Orchard Trail connects. "It definitely makes it an easier row to hoe when you have such strong support from the county, state and federal government."

A much smaller project, but perhaps no less significant on a local level, is the rapidly developing 70-mile trail loop around the county. The Macomb Orchard Trail is a key piece. The loop will link Stony Creek Metropark—one of the region's largest and most popular parks—with the beaches of Lake St. Clair and several other parks in between.

"The loop will provide great connectivity," says Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel. "It brings the county together and provides a tremendous recreational opportunity."

Already, the Clinton River Trail is just a hop across the street from the Macomb Orchard Trail's west end, so travelers can continue their journey another 16 miles west and, in turn, link to the nine-mile Paint Creek Trail.

Photo of cyclists enjoying a summer day on the trail courtesy Macomb County Planning and Economic Development Department

"When we were first trying to get support for the Macomb Orchard Trail, people were questioning it," says Joe Youngblood, parks and recreation director for Shelby Township. "But it's been one of the most positive things to happen for the community. We get so many users on it, and people see the positive impact it has. Everything we hear about the expansion of the trail system has been positive."

For a rural county with tight purse strings, the expense of developing a trail like this takes on particular importance.

"Shelby Township is a pretty cautious, conservative community," says Rick Stathakis, supervisor for Shelby Township, which anchors the west side of the trail. "These were some big investments, so we did our homework. We looked at the numbers several times, but saw the many benefits that the trail would have and there was no way we could say no to this."

Fortunately, the project had a major champion in U.S Rep. Candice Miller (R-Mich.), a lifelong resident of the county and an avid trail supporter.

"Biking and hiking trails, particularly our Macomb Orchard Trail, really enhance communities, providing residents with a valuable outlet for recreation and outdoor activities," says Miller. "I really believe that the Orchard Trail improves the quality of life for those who can take advantage of it, which is why I worked so hard to secure funding for its construction. Since its completion in 2011, many residents have enjoyed this beautiful trail, and it has become an important asset to the community."

Cutting the ribbon for the first phase of the trail in 2004; in attendance (left to right): Don Brown, Peter Lund, U.S. Rep. Candice Miller and Ted Wahby. Photo courtesy Macomb County Planning and Economic Development Department.

Of her support, Brown is effusive. "She secured $3.7 million for the trail and it was a shot in the arm for us. With that funding, the county was able to pave the first half of the trail. It helped to accelerate the work, and we were able to surpass all of our expectations."

Now that the trail is such an important character in the county's story, it's hard to imagine what it once was. "The railroad bed was trashy and unkempt," says Youngblood. "There was no reason for anyone to maintain it. Kids would throw litter and their Slurpee cups out there, but, since the trail has been built, those issues are gone now. You won't see any trash. Users take pride in helping the trail look good."

Back in 1998, when the Canadian National Railroad first put the railroad corridor up for sale, a group of Macomb County residents jumped on the idea of turning it into a trail. They quickly formed the Friends of the Macomb Orchard Trail and garnered the support of the Macomb County Board of Commissioners, who negotiated with the railroad to reduce its price and successfully made the purchase with financing from the Trust for Public Land.

"There were early concerns when the property was for sale that the rail line could sell the right-of-way to individual landowners in pieces," says Brown, involved with the project since those early days. "We wanted to avoid that and buy it in one piece. It was an incentive for us to act quickly."

Photo of trail users and the barn arch courtesy Macomb County Planning and Economic Development Department

Once the corridor was purchased, a collaborative group of stakeholders from the county, municipalities along the route and the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority came together to form the Macomb County Trail Commission to direct how the trail would be developed and managed. Members of the commission pay an annual fee to cover the year-round maintenance of the trail.

Today, the results of the effort are clearly visible. Restaurants adjacent to the trail offer outdoor patios and bike racks, and new bike shops and other businesses are popping up to service trail users.

"We don't have the data points yet," says Stathakis. "But we're certain of the economic benefit of the trail. For example, there's a Dairy Queen next to the trail, and there will be 30 to 40 bikes packed in front. No question about it, the trail brings business."

Photo of runners courtesy Macomb County Planning and Economic Development Department

In addition to its economic impact, the enhancement to residents' quality of life is one of the key reasons behind Hackel's support of the trail. "There has to be a balance in the community," he says. "You can't just have roads. Parks and recreation are part of a community, and I consider trails linear parks."

Stathakis couldn't agree more. "The walkability of a township is related to the general health of a community. We want people going out and walking around, [and we want] more people biking instead of taking a car."

A lifelong resident of Shelby Township, Youngblood remembers walking the old railroad bed with his friends as a teenager. "Now, I see the trail and it brings back memories. It shows how a community can come together to take something not being used and turn it into a beautiful pathway."

Do you enjoy and want to support our Trail of the Month feature? Any extra contribution you're able to make helps us stay at the forefront of covering trails and trail projects around the country. Thank you for reading and supporting this feature!

]]>http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/july/01/michigans-macomb-orchard-trail/
http://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/july/01/michigans-macomb-orchard-trail/Tue, 01 July 2014 11:19:23 Making the Most of the Met (Metropolitan Branch Trail, That Is!)Amy Kapphttp://www.railstotrails.org/trailblog/rss/trailblog/2014/june/26/making-the-most-of-the-met-metropolitan-branch-trail-that-is/On June 25, Kathy Blaha, board member extraordinaire for both RTC and City Parks Alliance, posted this great blog on the programs helping to make the Metropolitan Branch Trail a true neighborhood gem. Programming is a valuable strategy for increasing trail use among individuals and families in local communities across the U.S., as RTC's trail development director, Kelly Pack, discusses in the blog.

Thanks to the City Parks Alliance for letting RTC repost! Happy reading!

Abandoned rail lines running through city neighborhoods can be the perfect solution for creating a park in a high density city with little other available real estate. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) has nearly a 30-year history of providing leadership in the creation of more than 20,000 miles of new trail across the country. Today, it finds itself increasingly working in cities to forge the last connection to a regional trail system. This means tackling the shorter rail lines where their proximity to where people live, work and play makes them a good choice for getting people walking and cycling.

But these urban trails require a lot more attention to get people to use them for recreation and transportation, and RTC finds itself increasingly involved in programming trails as well as building them.

“RTC used to say, ‘build it and they will come,’” says Kelly Pack, RTC’s director of trail development. “Now we say, ‘build it, maintain it, program it, and they will come.’ In urban areas, people have a lot more choices. Being more engaged on the programming side really helps to build awareness and get people hooked on their own neighborhood trails—and then hopefully onto regional trail systems.”

Stretching 8.25 miles from Union Station in downtown Washington, D.C., to just across the border in Silver Spring, Md., the Metropolitan Branch Trail has long been a goal of neighborhood residents and planners in the region. RTC has been extremely active in organizing activities that encourage greater use of the Met Branch Trail.

Check it: Amtrak recently announced that it is installing new baggage cars with bike racks to all its long-distance trains by the end of the year. This includes the Amtrak Capitol Limited train that runs between Washington, D.C., and Pittsburgh, Pa.—creating a new connection for cyclists to access the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) and the C & O Canal, and ultimately changing the way people tour, vacation and get around in the U.S. Awesome.

Currently, only a small amount of Amtrak routes allow assembled bikes—and in limited amounts. But, as RTC covered in a blog last fall, Amtrak tested a brief pilot run of roll-on bike service with six vertically mounted bicycle restraints installed in a lower-level baggage area of a Superliner coach (departing from Pittsburgh). This breakthrough came after years of advocacy from local business people and bicyclists, who were frustrated by the lack of “roll-on” bike carriage service on Amtrak. Participants indicated that the tests were successful.

Amtrak had also been testing these bike racks in Michigan, New York and Vermont, but this was the first time they did so for a two-level Superliner.

"After this test run of roll-on bike service, it's clear to me that carrying an unboxed bike on a train can work in the U.S., just as it does across Europe. My only concern is that on routes like the Capitol Limited, which serve bike-friendly cities and hugely popular corridors like the GAPCO and U.S. Bike Route 50, there won't be enough racks on each train to adequately meet demand,” said Champe Burnley of the Virginia Bicycling Federation, a long-time advocate for this issue.

The new baggage cars to be installed this year—which are currently being tested in Chicago, New Orleans, Miami and the Northeast Corridor, according to an Amtrak blog post—will be used on all 15 of Amtrak’s long-distance routes, for the first time allowing the bicycling masses to transport their bikes without having to disassemble and pack them away during the train journey. Nice—eh?

“It’s great to have Amtrak understanding how important the bike tourism industry is,” Linda Boxx is quoted as saying. A former president and current member of the Allegheny Trail Alliance, Boxx has worked for years to persuade Amtrak to provide better accommodations for bikes.

RTC acknowledges the incredible efforts of Boxx and Burnley in making this historic development possible! And a special shout out to Amtrak for recognizing how important it is to create connections for people who are embracing active transportation and trail tourism—things that are helping communities thrive along the GAP, the C & O and all across America.

On or about June 16, 2014, CSX Transportation, Inc. filed for the abandonment of 1.49 miles of track within Indianapolis in Marion County, Ind. The corridor is located just south of the existing Central Canal Towpath. We are providing this information because it presents an opportunity to develop a real regional asset: a multi-use trail that can accommodate hikers, bikers, equestrians and other appropriate uses.

NEXT STEPS: If this corridor is suitable for trail use, we strongly urge local trail advocates, or an appropriate local, regional or state agency or organization, to take action now. A “boiler plate” letter (found here) can be filed with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) and the abandoning railroad using STB docket number AB-55 (sub-no. 709x). Filing this letter does not commit its authors to acquire the corridor; it merely gives time to develop a rail-trail proposal and undertake negotiations with the railroad. According to the information we have received, the deadline for filing this letter is July 16, 2014. Even if this deadline is missed, there is probably still time to contact t